Iope

3/73JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

ADULT SABBATH SCHOOL LESSONS

THIRTEENTH SABBATH OVERFLOW OFFERING

Australasian Division—September 29, 1973

The future of our work in the Central Pacific is centered on Fulton

College, Fiji, the senior educational institution in this part of the field.

Since 1949, when the union was first organized, the people of the 700

islands of the Central Pacific have looked to Fulton for their total worker

force as they have aggressively pursued the gospel outreach. The two

other union missions of the Australasian Division have also received

efficiently trained, consecrated workers from Fulton.

Today Fulton College has representative, and nearly adequate, admin-

istrative and classroom facilities. This plant resulted in a large measure

from the generosity of Sabbath School members around the world, who

strongly supported the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in March, 1963.

Unfortunately, at the present time, when indigenous peoples of the

Central Pacific are lifting their general standard of living, Fulton's board-

ing facilities are very substandard, makeshift, and hopelessly inadequate.

Therefore, on September 29, 1973, we shall again confidently look to our

Sabbath School members to provide generously the necessary means

for the erection of much-needed dormitories at Fulton College. Thank

you again for your help.

R. R. Frame

President

Australasian Division

Lessons for the Fourth Quarter of 1973

Sabbath School members who have not received a copy of the

Adult Lessons

for the fourth quarter of 1973 will be helped by

the following outline in studying the first two lessons. The title

of the series is "Managing God's Goods"—a study of individual

responsibility in the management of all that God has placed at

our disposal.

The title of the first lesson is "God's Ownership." The mem-

ory verse is Ps. 24:1. The outline is as follows: (1) God Is Eternal.

Ps. 90:2. (2) God Is a Person. Ps. 86:15. (3) God Is Eternal. Gen.

1:1; Ps. 102:25. (4) God Is Redeemer. Isa. 43:1. (5) God-man

Relation. Ps. 24:1. (6) Man-God Relation. Luke 12:18-20.

The title of the second lesson is "Man's Stewardship." The

memory verse is Matt. 25:21. The outline is as follows: (1) Stew-

ardship of Life. Acts 17:24, 25, 28. (2) Stewardship of the Body.

Rom. 12:1. (3) Stewards of Time. Ps. 90:12. (4) Stewards of

Abilities. Gen. 2:15. (5) Stewards of Material Possessions. Gen.

2:16, 17. (6) Tested by God. Matt. 25:40.

JESUS AND HIS PEOPLE

General Introduction

Many in the world today profess to follow Jesus. Do they know who Jesus is?

Do they recognize what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?

It is the purpose of these lessons to study about Jesus as He relates to His

people here on earth. Hopefully in this way we can appreciate more fully what

He has done for us, and respond to Him in a more meaningful way.

We see Jesus as Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, worthy of wor-

ship and all praise. We see Him challenged by the covering cherub, a creature

who is described as being "full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty." See Ezek. 28:12-

14. How Satan came to do this, we cannot understand, but Isaiah tells us that pride

entered his heart. See Isa. 14:12-14. He thought he could set his throne above the

stars and be like the Most High.

The subject of the controversy is God's character. Is God all-loving? Is He

absolutely fair? Can perfect love and perfect justice exist meaningfully side by side?

Jesus took up the challenge. As Michael the Archangel, He fought with Satan

and the third of the angels who had been deceived. See Rev. 12:7, 8. As might

be expected, there was no room in heaven for deception and falsehood.

The conflict was transferred to this earth. Satan succeeded in deceiving Eve

and in causing Adam to follow in the path of disobedience. But God was not

caught unawares. He had a plan for man's salvation, a plan that would reveal

God's true character.

Down through the ages God has communicated with man in various ways.

Satan has had his counterfeit communications, but God's word has not been lost.

Finally, God sent His Son, born of a virgin, and the express image of the Father.

He went about doing good, and gave His life a ransom for many. Satan did his

best to prevent this final revelation of God's love, but he failed.

Satan now tries to destroy God's people, and especially so as he recognizes

that his time is short. How are God's people to respond to this situation? It is

the purpose of these lessons to indicate some of the strategies of the enemy and

to show that, in spite of tremendous odds, God's people will triumph if they will

take up the challenge that is theirs and follow in the footsteps of the Master in

the strength which He alone can provide.

It is the prayer of those who have compiled these lessons that Paul's petition

for the Ephesians (Eph. 1:17-23) may be fulfilled in the experience of every student.

The Blessing of Daily Study

"Every day some portion of time should be appropri-

ated to the study of the lessons, not merely in learning to

mechanically repeat the words, while the mind does not

comprehend the meaning; but to go to the very founda-

tion, and become familiar with what is brought out in the

lesson."—"Counsels on Sabbath School Work," page 53.

My Pledge

As one who greatly desires to improve his knowledge

of the Scriptures, I pledge myself to the careful and

prayerful study of some portion of my Sabbath School

lesson each day of the week.

(signed)

The regular adult Sabbath School lessons and regular Sab-

bath School World Mission Report are available free each month

in Braille and 16

rpm records to blind and physically handi-

capped persons who cannot read normal inkprint. This includes

individuals who because of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paraly-

sis, accidents, old age, and so forth, cannot hold, or focus on,

normal inkprint publications. Contact the Christian Record

Braille Foundation, Box 6097, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506.

LESSON TITLES

Jesus, Sovereign Lord

Jesus Challenged by Rebellion

Jesus' Word and Satan's Challenge

Jesus Calls a People

A Counterfeit People

A Faithful People

Jesus Purifies a People

A Confident People

Jesus' People Under Attack

10.

An Obedient People

11.

The Witness of Jesus' People-1

12.

The Witness of Jesus' People—II

13.

The Victory of Jesus and His People

Adult Sabbath School Lessons (regular edition), No. 313, July-September, 1973. 35 cents a

single copy, $1.40 a year (four issues); no additional charge to countries requiring extra post-

age. Published in the U.S.A., by Pacific Press Publishing Association (a corporation of S.D.A.),

1350 Villa Street, Mountain View, California 94040. Second-class mail privileges authorized at

Mountain View, California. Form 3579 requested. When a change of address is desired, please

be sure to send both old and new addresses.

Illustrations by Elfred Lee

LESSON 1

July 1-7

JESUS, SOVEREIGN LORD

"Christ is the pre-existent, self-

existent Son of God.. .. In

speaking of His pre-existence,

Christ carries the mind back

through dateless ages. He

assures us that there never

was a time when He was

not in close fellowship

with the eternal God.. ..

"Jesus declared, 'I am the

resurrection, and the life.'

In Christ is life, original,

unborrowed, underived.

`He that hath the Son hath

life.' The divinity of Christ

is the believer's assurance

of eternal life."

—Evangelism,

pages

615, 616.

"God raised him to the heights and

bestowed on him the name above all

names, that at the name of Jesus every

knee should bow—in heaven, on earth,

and in the depths—and every tongue

confess, 'Jesus Christ is Lord,' to the

glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:9-11,

NEB.

It is important to see Jesus as He is,

to recognize His majesty and power.

Only in this way can we fully appreciate

what He has done for us.

In this lesson we view Jesus as God

from eternity. Paul expresses the

thought as clearly as human language

can express it when he says: "It is in

Christ that the complete being of the

Godhead dwells embodied." Col. 2:9,

NEB. This is a difficult idea for the finite

mind to comprehend, but it is part of

God's revelation.

Jesus is the Creator. "All things were

created by him, and for him." Col. 1:16.

The mind staggers at the thought of

instantaneous creation from no preexis-

tent material source, but the Bible tells

us that God "spake, and it was done; he

commanded, and it stood fast." Ps. 33:9.

No long, drawn-out process of evolution

is indicated here.

The Creator of the universe is also

man's Redeemer. Only a member of the

Godhead had the innate life, power,

wisdom, and love to accomplish man's

redemption. No created being could

take the place of fallen man. This sub-

stitution of Creator for created makes

redemption the costliest venture ever

known, and reveals the depth to which

God was prepared to go in order to

save man.

Is God really like that? While the

main object of this lesson is to show

the exalted position of Jesus in the uni-

verse, it will also show, by contrast, that

the Godhead has made the greatest

sacrifice possible in order to save man.

We may never fully understand the

depths of God's love, but we can at

least accept His full and free salvation.

Jesus, Sovereign Lord

LESSON 1



❑

Sunday

July 1

Part 1

EMMANUEL,

GOD WITH US

Matt. 1:23

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth

a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being in-

terpreted is, God with us?'

Jesus was no ordinary human baby. Luke, who understood

these matters, tells of the announcement to Mary and records

the words of the angel: "Therefore also that holy thing which

shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke

1:35. The virgin birth confirmed to Mary the divine origin of

Jesus. Joseph, who was engaged to Mary, was visited by an

angel who told him of the miracle. See Matt. 1:20-25. The Magi

who had seen the star in the East came to worship Jesus, ob-

viously recognizing His divinity. See Matt. 2:2. The shepherds,

Simeon, and Anna also recognized the significance of the

unique birth of Jesus and His special mission.

The ministry of Christ from start to finish is also clear evi-

dence that Jesus was the Son of God.

What was John the Baptist's witness about Jesus? Matt. 3:11.

When Jesus came out of the waters of baptism, a voice

from heaven said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well

pleased." Matt. 3:17. Jesus performed so many remarkable

miracles that Nicodemus was impelled to admit that Jesus was

no ordinary person. See John 3:1, 2. When Peter made the

confession, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,"

Jesus answered: "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh

and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which

is in heaven." Matt. 16:16, 17.

An outstanding occasion when Jesus claimed to be divine

was when He said to a paralytic: " 'Take heart, my son; your

sins are forgiven.' " Matt. 9:2, NEB. This was obviously blas-

phemous talk unless Jesus was divine and was in a position

to forgive sins. Immediately He performed a miracle of healing

to indicate that His claim was not without foundation.

After the resurrection doubting Thomas had his doubts

taken away, and he exclaimed: "My Lord and my God!" Then

"Jesus said to him 'Have you believed because you have seen

me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.' "

John 20:28, 29, RSV.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it important for me to believe that Jesus was divine?

"In His treatment of Thomas, Jesus gave a lesson for His

followers. His example shows how we should treat those whose

faith is weak, and who make their doubts prominent. Jesus did

not overwhelm Thomas with reproach, nor did He enter into

controversy with him.. . . Let Jesus, in His love and mercy, be

revealed as the crucified Saviour, and from many once un-

willing lips will be heard the acknowledgement of Thomas, 'My

Lord and my God.'

"—The Desire of Ages,

page 808.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 43-49.

Jesus, Sovereign Lord

LESSON 1



❑

Monday

July 2

Part 2

CREATOR OF ALL

Col. 1:16

To what extent was the Son of God the Creator?

"By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that

are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or

dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created

by him, and for him."

We human beings belong to this world. We are nourished

by products of the earth, and we breathe its atmosphere and

drink its water. But the One who became Jesus of Nazareth

was previous to and apart from creation. His pre-earth existence

did not depend on the elements of the created universe, for

He brought them into being. He is the originator of our lives

and of the food, air, and water that sustain us. Every world

and every living being, except the Godhead, were created by

the Son.

It is a staggering thought that the One who was born so

humbly in Bethlehem was the Lord of creation. In order to take

on human form He who was "in the form of God" and "equal

with God" "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him

the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men"

and "humbled himself." Phil. 2:6-8. Are we prepared to hum-

ble ourselves for the sake of others?

When we think of what Jesus had to do in order to save

man, we are struck with His great condescension, His great

love. But we should also remember that it is His power, coupled

with His love, that makes His salvation effective.

Why is Jesus able to "save them to the uttermost that come

unto God by him"? Heb. 7:24, 25.

Do we believe that Jesus is able? When Christians suffer

persecution and hardship and are tempted to give up their

principles of truth and righteousness, they can commit their

lives unreservedly to Him because, as Peter assures them,

"Their Maker will not fail them." 1 Peter 4:19, NEB.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is the connection between God's creative power and

redemption?

"The Saviour condescended to poverty, that He might teach

how closely we in a humble lot may walk with God. He lived

to please, honor, and glorify His Father in the common things

of life. . . . He was doing God's service just as much when

laboring at the carpenter's bench as when working miracles

for the multitude."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 74.

"It was Christ that spread the heavens, and laid the founda-

tions of the earth. It was His hand that hung the worlds in

space, and fashioned the flowers of the field. . . . It was He

that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. And

upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the mes-

sage of the Father's love."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 20.



FURTHER STUDY



Selected Messages,

Bk. 1, pp. 247, 248.

Jesus, Sovereign Lord

LESSON 1



❑

Tuesday

July 3

Part 3

REDEEMER

OF MEN

Acts 4:12

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none

other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must

be saved."

Many who are not Christians recognize God as a Supreme

Being or as Creator. But worship becomes more personal and

meaningful when the Supreme Being and Creator is also the

Redeemer. Redemption forms a tie that makes the worshiper

forever grateful, willing to devote his whole life in service to

God because of what has been done for him. The good news

of the gospel is that the Creator of the universe is man's Re-

deemer.

What did God do in order to redeem man? John 3:16.

Job knew that he had a living Redeemer (Job 19:25), David

addressed God as his strength and Redeemer (Ps. 19:14), and

Isaiah referred to God as Father and Redeemer (Isa. 63.16).

"The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a

plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of

'the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times

eternal.' Rom. 16:25, R V



From the beginning, God and

Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man

through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not

ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and

made provision to meet the terrible emergency. . . .

"Jesus might have remained at the Father's side. He might

have retained the glory of heaven, and the homage of the

angels. But He chose to give back the scepter into the Father's

hands, and to step down from the throne of the universe, that

He might bring light to the benighted, and life to the perish-

ing."—The

Desire of Ages,

pages 22, 23.



THINK IT THROUGH



From what are we redeemed? Titus 2:14. What is the price

of our redemption? 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9.

"Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated

as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He

had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness,

in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was

ours, that we might receive the life which was His."—The

De-

sire of Ages,

page 25.

"Through Christ's redeeming work the government of God

stands justified. The Omnipotent One is made known as the

God of love. Satan's charges are refuted, and his character

unveiled. Rebellion can never rise again. Sin can never again

enter the universe. Through eternal ages all are secure from

apostasy."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 26.



FURTHER STUDY



Selected Messages,

Bk. 1, pp. 226, 227.

Jesus, Sovereign Lord

LESSON 1



El Wednesday

July

Part 4

CAPTAIN OF

SALVATION

Heb. 2:10

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom

are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the

captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

The word translated "captain" in this verse is translated

"Prince" in Acts 3:15 and Acts 5:31. It means "leader," and is

so translated in the NEB in Heb. 2:10. Jesus is a leader who

leads His people to victory.

When Joshua was ready to enter the Promised Land and

take Jericho, he saw the "captain of the host of the Lord"

(Josh. 5:14). The context makes clear that this was no other

than Christ, for Joshua worshiped Him and was told to take

off his shoes because the ground he was standing on was

holy. "It was Christ, the Exalted One, who stood before the

leader of

Israel."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 488.

Jesus is always with His people to lead them to victory. In

some times of crisis Jesus has revealed himself in power and

glory to give His people the confidence they needed. Dan.

10:5, 6; Rev. 1:13-17.

It is remarkable that in Heb. 2:10 the Captain of salvation

is said to be made perfect through sufferings. It is because

He suffered, and died, and rose again, that He is worthy of

being a leader.

In the song of the twenty-four elders why is Jesus declared

worthy to open the scroll of human history? Rev. 5:9, 10.

What do you think are the outstanding qualities of leader-

ship in the cause of God?

We need Jesus as our Leader because the fight in which

every Christian is engaged is not with flesh and blood; it is

a spiritual warfare. Eph. 6:12.



THINK IT THROUGH



In what ways is Jesus my Captain when I face a crisis or

have an important decision to make?

"The Saviour's eye penetrates the future; He beholds the

broader fields in which, after His death, the disciples are to be

witnesses for Him. His prophetic glance takes in the experience

of His servants through all the ages till He shall come the

second time. He shows His followers the conflicts they must

meet. . . . They are to contend with supernatural forces, but

they are assured of supernatural help. All the intelligences of

heaven are in this army. And more than angels are in the

ranks. The Holy Spirit, the representative of the Captain of

the Lord's host, comes down to direct the battle. . . . The

power of Omnipotence is enlisted in behalf of those who trust

in God."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 352.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 353-358.

Jesus, Sovereign Lord

LESSON 1



❑

Thursday

July 5

Part 5

GOD'S REVELATION

John 14:9, NEB

How can the Heavenly Father be known by human beings?

"'Have I been all this time with you, Philip, and you still do

not know me? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

Then how can you say, "Show us the Father"'?"

Many Christians have a false conception of the character of

God the Father. They think of Him as being harsh and exact-

ing, while they conceive of Jesus as being loving, gentle, and

compassionate. But Jesus pointed out very clearly the unity

that exists in the Godhead.

Paul recognized this truth, because he said that God was

in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. 2 Cor. 5:19. Do

we recognize what a father must feel when he sends his son

on a dangerous mission? Can we picture how God would feel

when His Son was on the cross?

It is the work of Satan to try to misrepresent God. This is

the work he has tried to do from the very beginning. Jesus

came to vindicate the character of God, to show His unfathom-

able love.

Unfortunately, love is often misunderstood. It is thought

of as being soft and yielding, and not subject to discipline. The

opposite is true. Love is consistent with discipline. Mercy and

justice are completely harmonized in God.

The cross is the perfect example of this. The law demanded

the death of the sinner. Justice required it. But God Himself,

from whom all created life came, died for man. This manifests

His great love. Thus on the cross we see the law maintained

and the sinner forgiven. "He, the Sin Bearer, endures the wrath

of divine justice, and for thy sake becomes sin itself."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 756.

There were times when Jesus was angry. Can you see why?

Read Mark 3:5. Yet note that although angry, Jesus was also

grieved. Can we be angry in the same way? "Be ye angry, and

sin not," says Paul. Eph. 4:26. "The sufferings of every man

are the sufferings of God's child, and those who reach out no

helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His

righteous anger. This is the wrath of the Lamb."—The

Desire

of Ages,

page 825.



THINK IT THROUGH



Is my love for others only affection and sentiment? What

else is necessary in true love?

"God's love has been expressed in His justice no less than

in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of His throne, and the

fruit of His love. It had been Satan's purpose to divorce mercy

from truth and justice. ... But Christ shows that in God's plan

they are indissolubly joined together; the one cannot exist

without the other....

"By His life and death, Christ proved that God's justice did

not destroy His mercy, but that sin could be forgiven, and that

the law is righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed."—The

De-

sire of Ages,

page 762.



FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

Vol. 8, pp. 265-267.

Jesus, Sovereign Lord

LESSON 1



❑

Friday

July 6

Part 6

THE WAY OF LIFE

John 14:6, NEB

"Jesus replied, 'I am the way; I am the truth and I am life;

no one comes to the Father except by me.' "

Some people would say that Christians are arrogant when

they point to Jesus as the only way to life. There are many

who feel that God will accept anyone, so long as he is sincere.

But sincerity is not a safe guide to salvation. God is under-

standing. But the truths He has revealed are for men to accept;

and when a man rejects light that has been given to him, he

treads a dangerous path. Man cannot presume upon the good-

ness of God while pursuing his own selfish course. He must

search for truth; and having found it, he must cling to it and

share it with others.

How can a man be sure that he has the truth?

What is a result of knowing the truth? John 8:32.

In Romans 7 Paul describes the struggle that goes on in the

lives of many people. People want to do what is right, but find

themselves doing what is wrong. They are slaves of their sinful

nature. "The only condition upon which the freedom of man

is possible is that of becoming one with Christ."—The

Desire

of Ages,

page 466.

"Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the

control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of

freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed

to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of

Satan. While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates

of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of dark-

ness."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 466.



THINK IT THROUGH



What testimony can I give of what Christ has recently done

for me?

"In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No exter-

nal force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God,

man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change

that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is

the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act

of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves

from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from

sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above

ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine

energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the

will in fulfilling the will of God."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 466.



FURTHER STUDY



Selected Messages,

Bk. 1, pp. 249-251.

LESSON 2

July 8-14

JESUS CHALLENGED

BY REBELLION

"The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will

he keep his anger for ever. He hath not

dealt with us after our sins; nor re-

warded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the

earth, so great is his mercy toward

them that fear him." Ps. 103:8-11.

It is not easy to understand how sin

could enter a perfect universe, nor can

we give a reason for it. One thing is

certain, the Bible makes clear that sin

entered at a definite point in time, and

will be exterminated at a definite time

in the future.

In our lesson this week we see how

sin entered, and how God related to it.

Sin brings conflict, and the conflict that

began in heaven and involved the heav-

enly hosts has extended to this earth

and involves every man, woman, and

child, whether they recognize it or not.

We shall see that sin is basically a

created being's misconception of God,

and an enmity based on that misconcep-

tion. How can God vindicate His char-

acter? How can He make clear to all

created beings that He is not what sin

has made Him out to be? That is the

challenge—if we may speak in human

terms—that comes to Jesus, to show

the world that God is all-loving, per-

fectly fair, and the only One to whom

worship and honor can rightly be given.

In this lesson we see how sin arose

and spread, and how Jesus has faced

the challenge and met the issue with

perfect love and undoubted victory.

The article by Ellen G. White

which follows this lesson was

printed in the

Review and Herald,

Oct. 22, 1895. "Satan's Malignity

Against Christ and His People" is

to be read as supplementary ma-

terial for this week.

Jesus Challenged by Rebellion

LESSON 2



❑

Sunday

July 8

Part 1

THE ENTRANCE

OF SIN

Isa. 14:12, 13

"How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the

morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst

weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will

ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of

God."

A philosophy called dualism teaches that two eternal prin-

ciples dominate the universe, good and evil; that these two

principles have coexisted, and will continue to coexist through-

out eternity. The Christian who believes in the revelation given

in the Bible cannot accept such a philosophy. Difficult as it

may be to understand how sin could enter a perfect universe,

the fact is that it happened, and it began with a created being

called Lucifer.

How many times does the word "I" appear in Isa. 14:13, 14?

What does this tell you regarding the root of all sin? "Little

by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation.

. Though all his glory was from God, this mighty angel came

to regard it as pertaining to himself. Not content with his posi-

tion, though honored above the heavenly host, he ventured to

covet homage due alone to the

Creator."—Patriarchs and

Prophets,

page 35.

Of whom was Lucifer particularly jealous? "Coveting the

glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this

prince of angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of

Christ

alone."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 35.

How did Jesus deal with the jealousy that arose in the heart

of Lucifer? "The Son of God presented before him the great-

ness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the

sacred, unchanging nature of His law. . . . But the warning,

given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of re-

sistance. Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and

became the more determined."—Patriarchs

and Prophets,

page

36.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is sin such a subtle thing?

"Leaving his place in the immediate presence of the Father,

Lucifer went forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the

angels. He worked with mysterious secrecy, and for a time

concealed his real purpose under an appearance of reverence

for God. He began to insinuate doubts concerning the laws

that governed heavenly beings, intimating that though laws

might be necessary for the inhabitants of the worlds, angels

being more exalted, needed no such restraint, for their own

wisdom was a sufficient guide. . . . The exaltation of the Son

of God as equal with the Father was represented as an injus-

tice to

Lucifer."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 37.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 38-43.

Jesus Challenged by Rebellion

LESSON 2



❑

Monday

July



Part 2



"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels

WAR IN HEAVEN

fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his

angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any

Rev. 12:7, 8

more in heaven."

In the conflict that took place in heaven before the creation

of this world, one of the leaders was Michael. The name

"Michael" means, "who is like God." It is therefore a very

fitting name for Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus said to His

disciples: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the. Father."

John 14:9, NEB. Jesus is the express image of the Father

(Heb. 1:3), and would be the right person to lead the heavenly

hosts against the dragon, to champion truth against error.

What are other names for the dragon? Rev. 12:9.

The prime work of the devil is to deceive and destroy.

Therefore, Jesus said of him: "He was a murderer from the

beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no

truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44.

What do you think was the nature of the conflict that went

on in heaven? Was it spiritual, or physical, or both?

Note that the struggle involved a large number of persons,

because the devil had one third of the angels on his side.

Rev. 12:4.

Inasmuch as God's side was victorious, why was not Satan

immediately destroyed with all his cohorts? "The inhabitants

of heaven and of the worlds, being unprepared to comprehend

the nature or consequences of sin, could not then have seen

the justice of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been

immediately blotted out of existence, some would have served

God from fear rather than from love. The influence of the de-

ceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the

spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated. For the good

of the entire universe through ceaseless ages, he must more

fully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine

government might be seen in their true light by all created

beings, and that the justice and mercy of God and the immu-

tability of His law might be forever placed beyond all question."

—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 42.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is the significance of Lucifer being called a deceiver?

Why is Jesus the True Witness? What is a lie? What is truth?

"He that ruleth in the heavens is the one who sees the end

from the beginning—the one before whom the mysteries of

the past and the future are alike outspread, and who, beyond

the woe and darkness and ruin that sin has wrought, be-

holds the accomplishment of His own purposes of love and

blessing."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 43.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 35, 36, 41.

Jesus Challenged by Rebellion

LESSON 2



❑

Tuesday

July 10

Part 3

JESUS COMES

TO SAVE

Luke 2:10, 11

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring

you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For

unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which

is Christ the Lord."

Jesus came to this earth to save His people from their sins.

Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve man was caught in the

shackles of sin, and he needed a saviour. God had made a

plan to free him, a plan which He outlined in Gen. 3:15. An

essential part of this plan was that Jesus would come to earth

and die for man. Satan knew about this plan of redemption

because it was the theme of the Old Testament writings.

Where in the Old Testament do we read about the first ad-

vent of Jesus? Isa. 7:14; Micah 5:2; Dan. 9:25-27.

Satan strongly opposed the coming of Jesus. He knew that

the tidings of great joy to men would be his death knell, making

certain his destruction. John the Revelator pictures this situa-

tion in vivid terms: "And the dragon stood before the woman

which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as

soon as it was born." Rev. 12:4.

How did Satan seek to destroy Jesus? Matt. 2:16-18.

Why did Jesus come when He did, nearly two thousand years

ago? Gal. 4:4, 5.

"The world was ripe for the coming of the Deliverer. The

nations were united under one government. One language was

widely spoken, and was everywhere recognized as the !an-

guage of literature. From all lands the Jews of the dispersion

gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts. As these returned

to the places of their sojourn, they could spread throughout

the world the tidings of the Messiah's coming."—The

Desire

of Ages,

page 32.



THINK IT THROUGH



Think of other instances of God's perfect timing. How does

the evidence of God's hand in history affect you personally?

"In the annals of human history the growth of nations, the

rise and fall of empires, appear as dependent on the will and

prowess of man. . . . But in the word of God the curtain is

drawn aside, and we behold, behind, above, and through all

the play and counterplay of human interests and power and

passions, the agencies of the all-merciful One, silently, pa-

tiently working out the counsels of His own

will."—Education,

page 173.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 31-38.

Jesus Challenged by Rebellion

LESSON 2



❑

Wednesday

July 11

Part 4

JESUS MEETS

THE TEMPTER

Matt. 4:1

"Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to

be tempted of the devil."

The devil had failed to destroy Jesus at the time of His

birth. He failed to cause Jesus to sin when, as a youth, He grew

up in Nazareth and was subject to His parents. Therefore

after Jesus had fasted forty days in the wilderness, Satan ap-

proached Him, hoping now to cause Him to fall in a moment

of weakness. This has always been the strategy of Satan with

man, and only too often he has succeeded.

"It was in the time of greatest weakness that Christ was

assailed by the fiercest temptations. Thus Satan thought to

prevail. By this policy he had gained the victory over men."

—The Desire of Ages,

page 120.

What were the temptations that Satan presented to Jesus?

Matt. 4:3, 5-7, 8, 9.

"With Christ, as with the holy pair in Eden, appetite was the

ground of the first great temptation. Just where the ruin began,

the work of our redemption must begin."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 117.

The second temptation was an invitation to presumption

based on a doubt. "If thou be . . . cast thyself down." Jesus

refrained "from the slightest acceptance of doubt." "Faith is

in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith

is secure against presumption. . . . Faith claims God's prom-

ises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also

claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse

transgression."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 126.

The third temptation was the offer of the world in a way that

would by-pass suffering. But "Christ's mission could be fulfilled

only through suffering. . . . He must bear the sins of the whole

world....

"By the one who had revolted in heaven the kingdoms of

this world were offered Christ, to buy His homage to the prin-

ciples of evil; but He would not be bought; He had come to

establish a kingdom of righteousness, and He would not aban-

don His purpose."—The

Desire of Ages,

pages 129, 130.

THINK IT THROUGH



What are some of the great temptations that come to

the Christian today?

FURTHER STUDY

"Often the follower of Christ is brought where he cannot

serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises. Perhaps

it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God

will cut off his means of support. Satan would make him be-

lieve that he must sacrifice his conscientious convictions. But

the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word

of God."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 121.

"Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in

God."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 130.

The Desire of Ages,

pages 114-118.

Jesus Challenged by Rebellion

LESSON 2



❑

Thursday

July 12

Part 5

IT IS FINISHED

Heb. 12:2, 3

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the

throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradic-

tion of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in

your minds."

Jesus gained a signal victory over Satan in the wilderness,

but the archenemy was not to leave Him alone. Throughout

His ministry of three and a half years, Jesus was in constant

conflict with evil forces. Satan sought to destroy Him in the

sea. Matt. 8:24. He roused people to kill Him. John 8:59. But

His hour had not yet come, and nothing could prevent God's

purposes from being fulfilled.

The supreme effort of Satan to destroy Jesus came at the

end of His ministry. The events leading up to Calvary were

fraught with struggle and controversy. Alone, deprived of the

comfort and companionship of the disciples, Jesus had to make

the decision to drink the bitter cup. The whole universe was

witness to the scene in Gethsemane. "The worlds unfallen and

the heavenly angels had watched with intense interest as the

conflict drew to its close. Satan and his confederacy of evil, the

legions of apostasy, watched intently this great crisis in the

work of redemption. The powers of good and evil waited to

see what answer would come to Christ's thrice-repeated prayer.

Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but this

might not be. No way of escape was found for the Son of

God."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 693.

When Jesus had made His decision, the events leading to

the cross followed in quick succession: the betrayal kiss, the

mock trials, the cry of the people, "Crucify Him!" and then

Calvary. Satan was the prime mover in every trial and temp-

tation. But Christ did not yield in a single thought or word,

even though the temptations He met were so fierce that they

wrung His heart. Jesus sounded the note of victory when He

said: "It is finished."



THINK IT THROUGH



For what purposes did Jesus gain the victory over Satan?

"Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His adminis-

tration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before

the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer.

By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted

himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. Henceforth

his work was restricted."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 761.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 758-764.

2-AOT 3-'73

Jesus Challenged by Rebellion

LESSON 2



❑

Friday

July 13

Part 6

WEAPONS OF

WARFARE

Eph. 6:12, 13, NEB

THINK IT THROUGH

"For our fight is not against human foes, but against cosmic

powers, against authorities and potentates of this dark world,

against the superhuman forces of evil in the heavens. There-

fore, take up God's armour."

At the cross Jesus gained a signal victory. The tomb could

not hold Him who had life in Himself. How ridiculous seem the

efforts of puny man to hold the victorious, self-existent Jesus in

the grave! "Little did these murderers realize the uselessness of

their efforts. But by their action God was glorified. The very

efforts made to prevent Christ's resurrection are the most con-

vincing arguments in its proof."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 778.

What are the principles of victory over evil as revealed by

our Lord in the Old Testament? Ps. 40:8; 119:11; Isa. 50:7-10.

"As Jesus rested by faith in the Father's care, so we are to

rest in the care of our Saviour."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 336.

"So utterly was Christ emptied of self that He made no

plans for Himself. He accepted God's plans for Him, and day

by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend

upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His

will."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 208.

What are the various parts of the armor God has provided

for the fight against evil? Eph. 6:13-18.

"Satan's enmity against the human race is kindled because,

through Christ, they are the objects of God's love and mercy."

—The Great Controversy,

page 506.

"Satan is continually seeking to overcome the people of

God by breaking down the barriers which separate them from

the world."—The

Great Controversy,

page 508.

"From the days of Adam to our own time, our great enemy

has been exercising his power to oppress and destroy. He is

now preparing for his last campaign against the church. All

who seek to follow Jesus will be brought into conflict with this

relentless foe. The more nearly the Christian imitates the divine

Pattern, the more surely will he make himself a mark for the

attacks of Satan."—The

Great Controversy,

page 510.

Why is it necessary at this time for the Christian to put on

God's armor? What are some areas of greatest conflict?

"He who called the fishermen of Galilee is still calling men

to His service. And He is just as willing to manifest His power

through us as through the first disciples. However imperfect

and sinful we may be, the Lord holds out to us the offer of

partnership with Himself, of apprenticeship to Christ. He in-

vites us to come under the divine instruction, that, uniting with

Christ, we may work the works of God."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 297.

FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 662-672.

Satan's Malignity Against Christ and His People

ELLEN G. WHITE

Speaking of Satan, our Lord says that

"he abode not in the truth." He was

once the covering cherub, glorious in

beauty and holiness. He was next to

Christ in exaltation and character. It

was with Satan that self-exaltation had

its origin. He became jealous of Christ,

and falsely accused him, and then laid

blame upon the Father. He was envious

of the position that was held by Christ

and the Father, and he turned from his

allegiance to the Commander of heaven

and lost his high and holy estate.

Though the angels had a knowledge of

God and of Jesus Christ, though they

were happy in the glorious service which

they did for the King of heaven, yet,

through his crooked representations of

Christ and the Father, the evil one

deceived a great company of angels,

drew them into sympathy with himself,

and associated them with himself in

rebellion. Satan and his sympathizers

became the avowed antagonists of God,

established their own infernal empire,

and set up a standard of rebellion

against the God of heaven. All the prin-

cipalities and powers of evil rallied to

the work of overthrowing the govern-

ment of God.

Satan accomplished the fall of man,

and since that time it has been his work

to efface in man the image of God, and

to stamp upon human hearts his own

image. Possessing supremacy in guilt,

he claims supremacy for himself, and

exercises over his subjects the power

of royalty. He cannot expel God from

his throne, but through the system of

idolatry, he plants his own throne be-

tween the heaven and the earth, be-

tween God and the human worshiper.

He intercepts every ray of light that

comes from God to man, and appro-

priates the worship that is due to God.

Satan has wrought with deceiving

power, bringing in a multiplicity of er-

rors that obscure the truth. Error cannot

stand alone; and would soon become

extinct if it did not fasten itself like a

parasite upon the tree of truth. Error

draws its life from the truth of God. The

traditions of men, like floating germs,

attach themselves to the truth of God,

and men regard them as a part of the

truth. Through false doctrines, Satan

gains a foothold, and captivates the

minds of men, causing them to hold

theories that have no foundation in

truth. Men boldly teach for doctrines the

commandments of men; and as tradi-

tions pass on from age to age, they ac-

quire a power over the human mind. But

age does not make error truth, neither

does its burdensome weight cause the

plant of truth to become a parasite. The

tree of truth bears its own genuine

fruit, showing its true origin and na-

ture. The parasite of error also bears

its own fruit, and makes manifest that

its character is diverse from the plant

of heavenly origin.

It is through false theories and tradi-

tions that Satan gains his power over

the human mind. We can see the extent

to which he exercises his power by the

disloyalty that is in the world. Even the

churches that profess to be Christian

have turned from the law of Jehovah,

and have erected a false standard.

Satan has had his hand in all this; for

by directing men to false standards, he

misshapes the human character, and

causes humanity to acknowledge him

as supreme. He works counter to the

holy law of God, and denies God's juris-

diction. It is at his throne that every evil

work finds its starting-point and obtains

its support.

Satan has charged injustice upon

God, and at various times has set in

motion all his supernatural agencies, in

order to cut off from men the knowledge

of God, to turn their attention from the

temple of God, and to establish his own

kingdom in the earth. At different times

he has almost succeeded in spreading

idolatry throughout the world. The his-

tory of the past shows that he has

striven to obtain the mastery upon earth,

and that his strife for supremacy has

seemed to be almost wholly successful.

He has worked in such a manner that

the Prince of heaven has seemed to be

lost sight of. It has seemed that the

confederacy of idolatry has borne su-

preme sway, and that Satan had indeed

become the god of this world. But the

only begotten Son of God has looked

upon the scene, has beheld human suf-

fering and misery. With pity he has seen

how his human agencies have been

blinded by the deceptions of the enemy,

and have become victims of Satanic

cruelty. He has seen how Satan has

exalted men simply for the purpose of

casting them down, how he has flattered

them, in order to draw them into his net

and destroy them. He looked upon the

schemes by which Satan works to blot

from the human soul every trace of like-

ness to God; how he led them into in-

temperance so as to destroy the moral

powers which God gave to man as a

most precious, priceless endowment. He

saw how, through indulgence in appe-

tite, brain power was destroyed, and the

temple of God was in ruins. He looked

with compassion upon men who were

becoming corrupted, ruined, murdered,

and lost, through choosing a ruler who

chained them to his car as captives, and

yet these slaves were so bewildered, so

beguiled and deceived, that they were

actually pleased with their slavery as

they moved on in gloomy procession

toward eternal ruin,—to death in which

is no hope of life, toward night to which

comes no morning. He saw human be-

ings possessed by devils, saw Satanic

agencies incorporated with men, saw

the bodies of men become the habita-

tions for the degrading indwelling of

demons. Man, made for the dwelling-

place of God, became the habitation of

dragons. The senses, the nerves, the

passions, the organs of man, were

worked by supernatural agencies in the

indulgence of the grossest, vilest lust.

The very stamp of demons was im-

pressed upon the countenances of men,

and human faces reflected the expres-

sion of the legions of evil with which

they were possessed. Such was the

prospect upon which the world's Re-

deemer looked. What a horrible spec-

tacle for the eyes of infinite purity to

behold! Wherein can he behold his

image? And yet God, the infinite One,

"so loved the world, that he gave his

only begotten Son [for such a world!],

that whosoever believeth in him should

not perish, but have everlasting life."

Christ came to our world, sent of God

to take human nature upon him. The

mysterious union was to be formed be-

tween human nature and the divine na-

ture. Christ was to become a man, in

order that he might unfold to men as

fully as possible the mysteries of the

science of redemption. But the scheme

of redemption far exceeds the compre-

hension of the human mind. The great

condescension on the part of God is a

mystery that is beyond our fathoming.

The greatness of the plan cannot be

fully comprehended, nor could infinite

Wisdom devise a plan that would sur-

pass it. It could be successful only by

the clothing of divinity with humanity,

by Christ becoming man, and suffering

the wrath which sin has made because

of the transgression of God's law.

Through this plan the great, the dread-

ful God can be just, and yet be the

justifier of all who believe in Jesus, and

who receive him as their personal Sav-

iour. This is the heavenly science of

redemption, of saving men from eternal

ruin, and can be carried out through the

incarnation of the Son of God, through

his triumph over sin and death. In seek-

ing to fathom this plan, all finite intelli-

gences are baffled.

Before the world was created, infinite

Wisdom provided for the terrible pos-

sibility of man's disloyalty. Though man

transgressed God's law, yet the law

was not weakened in the slightest par-

ticular. It stands fast forever and ever

as his eternal throne. No hope could be

found for man through the alteration of

God's law, but God so loved the world

that he gave himself in Christ to the

world to bear the penalty of man's trans-

gression. God suffered with his Son, as

the divine Being alone could suffer, in

order that the world might become rec-

onciled to him.—Review

and Herald,

Oct. 22, 1895.

LESSON 3

July 15-21

JESUS' WORD AND SATAN'S CHALLENGE

"Come to me and listen to my words,

hear me, and you shall have life: I will

make a covenant with you, this time for

ever, to love you faithfully as I loved

David." Isa. 55:3,

NEB.

It may be possible, philosophically, to

think of the God of the universe as not

communicating with His created beings.

This view is held by many Deists. But

the Bible reveals an entirely different

concept of God; it presents a God who

has always communicated with man.

In our lesson this week we see the

Creator communicating directly with

Adam and Eve. There was no sin to

prevent open communion. But as soon

as sin entered the world a veil had to

be drawn so that the presence of God

would not immediately destroy sinful

man.

Down through the centuries God has

used various means to reach man. The

world around us testifies to the greatness

and majesty of the Creator. But more

directly God has spoken through dreams

and visions. Sometimes He has called

prophets for the specific task of com-

municating His word.

Finally, God sent His Son, Jesus. This

was the perfect revelation of the char-

acter of God. Men may fail to under-

stand a language, but how can men

misunderstand a life? In everything that

Jesus did we see God in action.

In the time of Jesus the only written

revelation was the Old Testament. But

after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy

Spirit inspired men to write what we

call the New Testament. Thus in the Old

and New Testaments, we have what is

called the Bible, God's written revela-

tion to man.

Satan has always attacked the Bible.

He has sought to destroy or distort the

text, or to destroy confidence in it. But

the Bible has miraculously survived the

exigencies of time. No other ancient

writing has been more definitely authen-

ticated than the Bible. Archaeology has

done much to confirm its historicity.

The Word of God remains an infallible

revelation of God's will, and a sure guide

to modern man in his many perplexities.

Jesus' Word and Satan's Challenge

LESSON 3



❑

Sunday

July 15

Part 1

DIRECT COMMUNION

Gen. 2:16, 11, NEB

"He told the man, 'You may eat from every tree in the

garden, but not from the tree of the knowledge of good and

evil; for on the day that you eat from it, you will certainly die.' "

It is clear from Scripture that after God created man He

communicated with him. He laid down the principles of God's

government, the basis upon which man could continue to live.

Did our first parents know about the fall of Satan? "Our first

parents were not left without a warning of the danger that

threatened them. Heavenly messengers opened to them the

history of Satan's fall and his plots for their destruction, un-

folding more fully the nature of the divine government, which

the prince of evil was trying to

overthrow."—Patriarchs and

Prophets,

page 52.

What was Satan's first challenge on earth to the word of

the Lord? Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:3-5.

The words of the serpent were a direct challenge to the

words of the Lord. The whole future of Eve and her descendants

hung on whether she believed the words of the Lord or the

words of Satan. "Had Eve refrained from entering into argu-

ment with the tempter, she would have been safe; but she

ventured to parley with him and fell a victim to his wiles. It is

thus that many are still overcome. They doubt and argue con-

cerning the requirements of God; and instead of obeying the

divine commands, they accept human theories, which but dis-

guise the devices of Satan."—The

Great Controversy,

pages

531, 532.

"In the beginning, God gave His law to mankind as a means

of attaining happiness and eternal life. Satan's only hope of

thwarting the purpose of God is to lead men and women to

disobey this law, and his constant effort has been to misrepre-

sent its teachings and belittle its importance. His master stroke

has been an attempt to change the law itself, so as to lead

men to violate its precepts while professing to obey it"—

Prophets and Kings,

page 178.



THINK IT THROUGH



How has the entrance of sin affected man's communion

with his Maker? How do we know of God's will for us?

"The holy pair were not only children under the fatherly

care of God but students receiving instruction from the all-wise

Creator. They were visited by angels, and were granted com-

munion with their Maker, with no obscuring veil between. They

were full of vigor imparted by the tree of life, and their intel-

lectual power was but little less than that of the angels. The

mysteries of the visible universe . .. afforded them an exhaust-

less source of instruction and delight. The laws and operations

of nature, which have engaged men's study for six thousand

years, were opened to their minds by the infinite Framer and

Upholder of

all."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 50, 51.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 44-51.

Jesus' Word and Satan's Challenge

LESSON 3



❑

Monday

July 16

Part 2

THROUGH THE

PROPHETS

2 Chron. 20:20

"Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established;

believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper."

After sin entered the world God used a number of means

to communicate with His people. (1) Angels. Gen. 19:15.

(2) Dreams. Gen. 37. (3) Urim and Thummim. Ex. 28:30; Num.

27:21;

Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 351. (4) Special circum-

stances. Ex. 34:6. (5) Created works. Ps. 19:1, 2. (6) The Holy

Spirit. Isa. 30:21. But it was through the prophets that God

made His major communications.

How does God communicate with His people today? Some

of the prophets were oral prophets, like Elijah and Elisha, but

others were told to write out their messages for future gen-

erations. Jer. 36:2.

What phrases did the prophets use to indicate that the mes-

sages they bore were not their own? Isa. 1:1; 8:1; Jer. 1:4.

What is one way that God's communication through prophets

is challenged by Satan? Matt. 24:11, 24; 7:15.

"In these days of delusion, every one who is established in

the truth will have to contend for the faith once delivered to

the saints. Every variety of error will be brought out in the

mysterious working of Satan, which would, if it were possible,

deceive the very elect, and turn them from the truth.. .

"There will be false dreams and false visions, which have

some truth, but lead away from the original faith."—Ellen G.

White Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

Vol. 7, p. 952.

Not only were there prophets, but there were schools of

the prophets. "The schools of the prophets were founded by

Samuel to serve as a barrier against the widespread corrup-

tion, to provide for the moral and spiritual welfare of the youth,

and to promote the future prosperity of the nation by furnishing

it with men qualified to act in the fear of God as leaders and

counselors."—Patriarchs

and Prophets,

page 593.

Unfortunately the children of Israel did not always pay heed

to the counsels that came to them through the prophets, and

so they were taken into captivity and allowed to suffer terribly.



THINK IT THROUGH



How do you think the life of the church today would be

different if the members of the church followed the instructions

of the prophets? What can we learn from the schools of the

prophets that might apply to our educational system?

"Of special value to God's church on earth today—the

keepers of His vineyard—are the messages of counsel and

admonition given through the prophets who have made plain

His eternal purpose in behalf of mankind. In the teachings of

the prophets, His love for the lost race and His plan for their

salvation are clearly revealed."—Prophets

and Kings,

page. 22.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and' Prophets,

pages 592-602.

Jesus' Word and Satan's Challenge

LESSON 3



❑

Tuesday

July 17

Part 3

THE WORD

INCARNATE

Heb. 1:1, 2

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in

time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these

last days spoken unto us by his Son."

Experience has shown that language can often be misun-

derstood. But a life that is lived is an unmistakable testimony

of love and concern. God's revelation to man found its apex

of fulfillment in the person and life of Jesus Christ.

If you wanted to show your love for someone, what would

you do? Why do actions speak louder than words? "The King

of glory stooped low to take humanity. Rude and forbidding

were His earthly surroundings. His glory was veiled, that the

majesty of His outward form might not become an object of

attraction. He shunned all outward display. Riches, worldly

honor, and human greatness can never save a soul from death;

Jesus purposed that no attraction of an earthly nature should

call men to His side. Only the beauty of heavenly truth must

draw those who would follow Him. The character of the Mes-

siah had long been foretold in prophecy, and He desired men

to accept Him upon the testimony of the word of God."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 43.

In last week's lesson we studied Satan's continuing chal-

lenge to Jesus in His earthly life. By threat of death and by

temptation Satan sought to prevent the revelation of God in

the life of Jesus Christ. But by the same grace that is available

to us Jesus met Satan's challenges, and His life is summed up

in the words: "Who went about doing good, and healing all

that were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him." Acts

10:38. How would you sum up the message of Jesus' life? Are

there aspects of the life of Jesus besides these that you would

like to emphasize?

The writer to the Hebrews said: "Consider him who endured

from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may

not grow weary or faint-hearted. In your struggle against sin

you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."

Heb. 12:3, 4, RSV.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it that more Christians are not reflecting the life of

Jesus? Why should we contemplate more on the life of Jesus?

"In the commission to His disciples, Christ not only outlined

their work, but gave them their message. Teach the people, He

said, 'to observe all things whatsoever

have commanded

you.' The disciples were to teach what Christ had taught. That

which He had spoken, not only in person, but through all the

prophets and teachers of the Old Testament, is here included.

Human teaching is shut out. There is no place for tradition, for

man's theories and conclusions, or for church legislation. . . .

Christ's name is their watchword, their badge of distinction,

their bond of union, the authority for their course of action, and

the source of their success."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 826.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 675-680.

Jesus' Word and Satan's Challenge

LESSON 3



❑

Wednesday

July 18

Part 4

THE WRITTEN

WORD

2 Tim. 3:16,17, RSV

"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teach-

ing, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteous-

ness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for

every good work."

Those whose writings have been preserved in the Bible were

especially equipped for their task. Peter says of them: "For it

was not through any human whim that men prophesied of old;

men they were, but, impelled by the Holy Spirit, they spoke the

words of God." 2 Peter 1:21, NEB.

Some of the writers did special research in order to ensure

the truth of everything that was written. All this makes the

Bible a special book. "For the word of God is alive and active.

It cuts more keenly than any two-edged sword, piercing as

far as the place where life and spirit, joints and marrow, divide.

It sifts the purposes and thoughts of the heart." Heb. 4:12, NEB.

"The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ, and the Sav-

iour desired to fix the faith of His followers on the word. When

His visible presence should be withdrawn, the word must be

their source of power."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 390.

"The Holy Scriptures are the perfect standard of truth, and

as such should be given the highest place in education."—

Education,

page 17.

Identify one challenge of the Written Word of God. Dan. 7:25.

"Those who are unwilling to accept the plain, cutting truths

of the Bible are continually seeking for pleasing fables that

will quiet the conscience. . . . Satan is ready to supply the

heart's desire, and he palms off his deceptions in the place

of truth. It was thus that the papacy gained its power over

the minds of men; and by rejection of the truth because it in-

volves a cross, Protestants are following the same path. All

who neglect the word of God to study convenience and policy,

that they may not be at variance with the world, will be left

to receive damnable heresy for religious truth. Every con-

ceivable form of error will be accepted by those who willfully

reject the truth."—The

Great Controversy,

page 523.

What are two of the benefits of the study of the Word of

God? Ps. 119:11, 105.



THINK IT THROUGH



How far can the success of the Christian be attributed to

his reading of the Bible?

"With the word of God in his hands, every human being,

wherever his lot in life may be cast, may have such companion-

ship as he shall choose. In its pages he may hold converse

with the noblest and best of the human race, and may listen

to the voice of the Eternal as He speaks with men.... He who

through the word of God has lived in fellowship with heaven,

will find himself at home in heaven's companionship."—Edu-

cation,

page 127.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 390, 391.

Jesus' Word and Satan's Challenge

LESSON 3



❑

Thursday

July 19

Part 5

AN ATTACK

ON THE WORD

Rev. 11:1, 8, RSV

Who is the beast from the bottomless pit? Rev. 20:1-3.

"And when they have finished their testimony, the beast

that ascends from the bottomless pit will make war upon them

and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie

in the street of the great city which is allegorically called

Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified."

Since the Bible is God's Good News to man, it was to be

expected that Satan would direct his attacks against it. John

the Revelator saw in vision two witnesses who prophesy for

one thousand two hundred sixty days in mourning, but were

eventually overcome and killed. Rev. 11:3-7. "The two witnesses

represent the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament.

Both are important testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of

the law of God. Both are witnesses also to the plan of salva-

tion. The types, sacrifices, and prophecies of the Old Testament

point forward to a Saviour to come. The Gospels and Epistles

of the New Testament tell of a Saviour who has come in the

exact manner foretold by type and prophecy."—The

Great Con-

troversy,

page 267. This prophecy saw its fulfillment in the

event connected with the French Revolution. The Bible was

banned and Reason was worshipped. Not long after this the

Bible was publicly burned.

But the prophecy indicated a complete reversal of the situa-

tion. "After three days and an half the spirit of life from God

entered into them, and they stood upon their. feet.... And they

ascended up to heaven in a cloud." Rev. 11:11, 12. Not long

after the French Revolution the British and Foreign Bible So-

ciety was founded in 1804. Twelve years later the American

Bible Society was founded. As a result of the work of these

Bible societies the Bible has been translated in whole or in part

in over a thousand languages. The Bible is the world's best

seller, and new translations are coming out frequently. Thus

Satan's attempt to suppress the Word of God has resulted in

utter failure.



THINK IT THROUGH



Satan has not succeeded in destroying the Word of God,

but has he succeeded in destroying confidence in it? Why is

it so few people read their Bibles?

"Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from

obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances

reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God's work the prince

of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting

forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and

His followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before

us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight.

So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be

impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy

Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every mira-

cle must be tested."—The

Great Controversy,

page 593.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 269-288.

Jesus' Word and Satan's Challenge

LESSON 3



❑

Friday

July 20

Part 6

THE WORD

TRIUMPHANT

Matt. 5:17, 18

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the proph-

ets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto

you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in

no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

God's Word is powerful and effective. It is weighted with

eternal consequences. God never changes, and His Word par-

takes of His character. It is not surprising, therefore, that God's

Word should triumph over the challenges of Satan.

Why do some people suggest that the Bible is not relevant

to our times? "The multitudes do not want Bible truth, because

it interferes with the desires of the sinful, world-loving heart;

and Satan supplies the deceptions which they love."—The

Great Controversy,

page 595.

How did the psalmist regard God's communication? Ps.

119:103.

"It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to

learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the

light and encourage others to follow his example. We should

day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought

and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help we

are to form our opinions for ourselves as we are to answer for

ourselves before God."—The

Great Controversy,

page 598.

What are the dangers of depending on others for a knowl-

edge of Bible truth? "Satan is constantly endeavoring to attract

attention to man in the place of God. He leads the people to

look to bishops, to pastors, to professors of theology, as their

guides, instead of searching the Scriptures to learn their duty

for themselves. Then, by controlling the minds of these leaders,

he can influence the multitudes according to his will."—The

Great Controversy,

page 595.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is a good plan for the study of the Bible?

"The Bible should never be studied without prayer. The

Holy Spirit alone can cause us to feel the importance of those

things easy to be understood, or prevent us from wresting truths

difficult of comprehension. It is the office of heavenly angels

to prepare the heart so to comprehend God's word that we

shall be charmed with its beauty, admonished by its warnings,

or animated and strengthened by its promises."—The

Great

Controversy,

pages 599, 600.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 593-602.

LESSON 4

July 22-28

JESUS CALLS

A PEOPLE

"Who saved us and called us with a

holy calling, not in virtue of our works

but in virtue of his own purpose and

the grace which he gave us in Christ

Jesus ages ago." 2 Tim. 1:9, RSV.

Jesus came to this earth, not only to

provide a full and free salvation, but to

call a people into fellowship with Him-

self. It is the privilege of the Christian

to leave behind the ways of darkness,

and to walk in light. This does not mean

that the Christian must leave the world.

In fact, Jesus prayed that the Christian

not

be taken out of the world. But it

does mean that he has rejected the

evil in the world.

The fellowship with Jesus is an un-

derstanding fellowship. Jesus knows

when we are tired and need rest. The

relationship with Jesus is one of quiet-

ness and confidence. We need no longer

be plagued with such questions as What

shall we eat? What shall we wear?

But the Christian has also a duty to

do, a task to perform. He has joined an

organization likened to a body with

Jesus as the Head. Eph. 1:22, 23. As

the

members of the body work in harmony

with directions from the head, so the

Christian is ready to serve in any capac-

ity that Jesus indicates.

One of the outstanding duties of the

Christian is to let his light shine. Like

a city set on a hill, he cannot and must

not be hid. Yet his shining is not to

attract attention to himself; it is to bring

honor and glory to God.

Perhaps the greatest privilege that

comes to the Christian is to witness to

the truth that has made him free. He

has a commission to go to every part

of the world and preach the gospel. He

does this with confidence and power

because he has the assurance of the

presence of Jesus "even unto the end

of the world." Matt. 28:20.

Our lesson this week is a study of the

privileges of the Christian as he recog-

nizes his call and responds to the op-

portunities of his high calling. in this

regard he is especially diligent to work

out his own salvation "with fear and

trembling," for he knows that it is God

who works in him "both to will and to

work for his good pleasure." Phil 2:12,

13, RSV.

Jesus Calls a People

LESSON 4



❑

Sunday

July



Part



"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy

THE INVITATION

nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonder-

ful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his mar-

Peter 2:9, RSV

velous light."

One of the first things Jesus did after He entered His min-

istry was to call men to be His disciples. Those who are called

to enjoy the benefits of salvation are also called to share their

blessings with others.

What blessings did Jesus seek to distribute through His

chosen men? Matt. 10:8.

"The children of God are called to be representatives of

Christ, showing forth the goodness and mercy of the Lord. As

Jesus has revealed to us the true character of the Father, so

we are to reveal Christ to a world that does not know His

tender, pitying

love."—Steps to Christ,

page 115.

How far should the Christian leave the world and yet remain

in it? John 17:15.

"The followers of Christ are to become like Him—by the

grace of God to form characters in harmony with the principles

of His holy law. This is Bible sanctification."—The

Great Con-

troversy,

page 469.

"God called Israel, and blessed and exalted them, not that

by obedience to His law they alone might receive His favor

and become the exclusive recipients of His blessings, but in

order to reveal Himself through them to all the inhabitants of

the earth. It was for the accomplishment of this very purpose

that He commanded them to keep themselves distinct from the

idolatrous nations around

them."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 369.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can the Christian be glad of his high and holy calling

and not be pharisaical at the same time?

"The Israelites did not realize that to be in this respect

unlike other nations was a special privilege and blessing. God

had separated the Israelites from every other people, to make

them His own peculiar treasure. But they, disregarding this

high honor, eagerly desired to imitate the example of the

heathen! And still the longing to conform to worldly practices

and customs exists among the professed people of God. . . .

But all who pursue this course thereby separate from the

Source of their strength. Becoming the friends of the world,

they are enemies of

God."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 607.



FURTHER STUDY



Steps to Christ,

"Consecration," pages 43-48.

Jesus Calls a People

LESSON 4



❑

Monday

July 23



Part 2



"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship

THE FELLOWSHIP

of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

1 Cor. 1:9

The Christian is called out of the world, and separates him-

self from the evil that is in it. But this is no sacrifice for him;

he is actually leaving that which cannot satisfy, that which

downgrades and destroys. Read 1 John 2:15-17.

More positively,

is invited to join a new fellowship, a new

relationship that will bring joy and blessing and life. It is a

vertical fellowship with Jesus Christ, and a horizontal fellow-

ship with Christian friends and neighbors.

What is the implied meaning of fellowship in 2 Cor. 6:14?

What is the relationship between fellowship and love?

The fellowship with Jesus means companionship and under-

standing. He knows our needs and supplies them.

What is one of the needs which Jesus supplies? Matt.

11:28-30.

"In these words Christ is speaking to every human being.

Whether they know it or not, all are weary and heavy-laden. All

are weighed down with burdens that only Christ can remove.

The heaviest burden that we bear is the burden of sin. If

we were left to bear this burden, it would crush us. But the

Sinless One has taken our place.... He has borne the burden

of our guilt. He will take the load from our weary shoulders.

He will give us rest. The burden of care and sorrow also He

will bear. He invites us to cast all our care upon Him; for He

carries us upon His heart."—The

Desire of Ages,

pages 328,

329.

"Christ is full of tenderness and compassion for all in His

service. He would show His disciples that God does not re-

quire sacrifice, but mercy. . . . It was their duty to rest."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 360.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can our relationship with our neighbors and friends

indicate that we have been in fellowship with Jesus?

"If we would give heed to His word, we should be stronger

and more useful. The disciples sought Jesus, and told Him all

things; and He encouraged and instructed them. If today we

would take time to go to Jesus and tell Him our needs, we

should not be disappointed; He would be at our right hand to

help

us."—The Desire of Ages,

page 363.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 328-332.

Jesus Calls a People

LESSON 4



❑

Tuesday

July 24

Part 3

THE ORGANIZATION

Col. 1:18

"And he is the head of the body, the church."

The Christian enjoys more than a beautiful fellowship with

Christ and his fellow Christians when he enters the church. He

becomes a vital member of a closely knit organization of which

Christ is the head. He is now to live and act in accordance with

the commands of his Master. He is not his own.

When a person is attached to Christ, does he lose his free-

dom or does he gain it? John 8:32-36.

"Every man is free to choose what power he will have to

rule over him. None have fallen so low, none are so vile, but

that they can find deliverance in Christ. The demoniac, in place

of prayer, could utter only the words of Satan; yet the heart's

unspoken appeal was heard. No cry from a soul in need, though

it fail of utterance in words, will be unheeded. Those who will

consent to enter into covenant relation with the God of heaven

are not left to the power of Satan or to the infirmity of their

own nature."—The

Desire of Ages,

pages 258, 259.

What are the talents placed in the church, and why are they

there? Eph. 4:11-13.

The Christian develops his talent by using what he has. The

parable of the talents shows us that it does not matter how

many talents we have; the faithful man with the two talents

was praised as highly as the one with five. The one who had

one talent failed because he did not use the one he had. Matt.

25:15-30.

"Of every Christian the Lord requires growth in efficiency

and capability in every line. Christ has paid us our wages, even

His own blood and suffering, to secure our willing service. He

came to our world to give us an example of how we should

work, and what spirit we should bring into our

labor."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

pages 330, 331.



THINK IT THROUGH



Am I doing what God would have me to do with my talents

in the church?

"The Lord has a great work to be done, and He will bequeath

the most in the future life to those who do the most faithful,

willing service in the present life. The Lord chooses his own

agents, and each day under different circumstances He gives

them a trial in His plan of operation. In each true-hearted en-

deavor to work out His plan, He chooses His agents not be-

cause they are perfect but because, through a connection with

Him, they may gain perfection."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

page

330.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons,

"Talents—Multiplied by Use, One

Talent," pages 353-360.

Jesus Calls a People

LESSON 4



❑

Wednesday

July 25

Part 4

THE FUNCTION

Matt. 5:14

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid."

Jesus described the function of the believer as being to let

his light shine. Jesus is the Light of the world, the one who

gives light to everyone who comes into the world, and the

member is to be a light also in his circle of influence.

By what means are Christians to let their light shine? Matt.

5:16.

It is significant that when the Christian shines, people glorify

God rather than the Christian. At least, that is the way it ought

to be! That is because the Christian knows that of himself he

can do nothing good. It was the goodness of God that led him

to repentance. By grace is he saved. He can do all things, but

only through Christ who strengthens him. Thus when people

praise him, he points to God as the one who has done all things

well. Unfortunately it is very human to appropriate to oneself

praise that belongs to another. "If the children of God, espe-

cially those who stand in positions of responsibility, can be

led to take to themselves the glory that is due to God, Satan

exults. He has gained a victory."

—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 421.

What men spoken of in the Bible were distinguished by let-

ting their light shine? Gen. 5:24; 18:19; Dan. 1:8.

"His [Abraham's] religion was not held as a precious trea-

sure to be jealously guarded and enjoyed solely by the posses-

sor. True religion cannot be thus held, for such a spirit is con-

trary to the principles of the gospel. While Christ is dwelling

in the heart it is impossible to conceal the light of His pres-

ence, or for that light to grow

dim."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 134.



THINK IT THROUGH



What does it mean to let one's light shine?

"The Jews thought to confine the benefits of salvation to

their own nation; but Christ showed them that salvation is like

the sunshine. It belongs to the whole world. The religion of

the Bible is not to be confined between the covers of a book,

nor within the walls of a church. It is not to be brought out

occasionally for our own benefit, and then to be carefully laid

aside again. It is to sanctify the daily life, to manifest itself in

every business transaction and in all our social relations."—

The Desire of Ages,

pages 306, 307.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pages 11-16.

Jesus Calls a People

LESSON 4



❑

Thursday

July 26

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach

the gospel to every creature."

The disciple of Jesus will find many opportunities for service

in his own neighborhood, but he must set his eyes on the four

corners of the earth and be sure that the gospel is being

preached in the out-of-the-way places as well as those nearby.

He may be called to serve overseas, or he may not; but with

his offerings he can help support those who have been called

and are doing the work that needs to be done.

Why is missionary work such an important feature of church

activity? Matt. 28:18-20.

"It is in doing Christ's work that the church has the promise

of His presence. . . . To take His yoke is one of the first con-

ditions of receiving His power. The very life of the church de-

pends upon her faithfulness in fulfilling the Lord's commission.

To neglect this work is surely to invite spiritual feebleness and

decay. Where there is no active labor for others, love wanes,

and faith grows dim."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 825.

What is another name for a missionary? 2 Cor. 5:20.

"Since His ascension Christ has carried forward His work

on the earth by chosen ambassadors, through whom He speaks

the

children of men and ministers to their needs. The great

Head of the church superintends His work through the instru-

mentality of men ordained by God to act as His representa-

tives."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

page 360.

The work of preaching the gospel has been given to the

church, not only to help the people to whom the gospel is

being preached, but to help the missionaries themselves. The

story of Jonah is well worth study in this connection. Jonah

was one who had the requisite talent to bring the city of Nine-

veh to repentance. But Jonah needed the experience of going

to Nineveh in order to learn some important lessons himself.



THINK IT THROUGH



Does the church preach the gospel in all the world because

men are in need of light, or because Jesus has commissioned

it to do this? Is the sending church in any way superior to the

receiving church?

"The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation

of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry

the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's

plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world

His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church,

those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous

light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository

of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church

will eventually be made manifest . . . the final and full display

of the love of God."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

page 9.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 818-828.

3-AQT 3-73

Part 5

THE COMMISSION

Mark 16:15

Jesus Calls a People

LESSON 4



❑

Friday

July 27

Part 6

THE PRESENCE

AND THE POWER

Rev. 1:13.15, TEV;

Acts 1:8, TEV

THINK IT THROUGH

What was the meaning of John's vision of Jesus in Rev.

1:13-15? See also verse 20.

"Among them stood a being who looked like a man, wearing

a robe that reached to his feet, and a gold band around his

chest. His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes

blazed like fire; his feet shone like brass melted in the furnace

and then polished, and his voice sounded like a mighty water-

fall."

"You will be filled with power when the Holy Spirit comes

on you, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all

of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The church can set out with utmost confidence to fulfill

its gospel commission because it has been promised the pres-

ence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

What must happen before the end can come? Matt. 24:14.

God has no other plan to finish His work than through con-

secrated men and women. "God could have proclaimed His

truth through sinless angels, but this is not His plan. . . . The

priceless treasure is placed in earthen vessels."—The

Acts of

the Apostles,

page 330.

There is given to man the privilege of being a co-worker with

God. "Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is

the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His

supreme regard. It is the theater of His grace, in which He

delights to reveal His power to transform hearts."—The

Acts

of the Apostles,

page 12.

What assurance do we have that the work of God will be

finished? Rom. 9:28.

Regardless of the problems that men may see, such as popu-

lation explosions, lack of funds, and closing doors, the work

is God's and He will see that it is accomplished. The urgent

question is a personal one: Am I doing what I can to hasten

the second coming of Jesus?

Is there something more the laymen ought to be doing, than

is now being done, in order to finish God's work on the earth?

"The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or

to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His

Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the Day

of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent

to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His

service. To all who have accepted Christ as a personal Sav-

iour, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide,

and witness. The more closely believers have walked with God,

the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their

Redeemer's love and of His saving grace."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

page 49.

The Acts of the Apostles,

pages 47-56.

FURTHER STUDY

A COUNTERFEIT PEOPLE

LESSON 5

July 29 to August 4

"1 considered the horns, and, behold,

there came up among them another

little horn, before whom there were

three of the first horns plucked up by

the roots: and, behold, in this horn were

eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth

speaking great things." Dan. 7:8.

Wherever on earth there is a genuine

article of value, there is usually a coun-

terfeit. The counterfeit is practically

worthless, but it appears to be so much

like the original that it can very easily

mislead. It is a tragedy when men and

women spend time and money for what

they consider is genuine, but is, in fact,

a counterfeit.

God has a people that He has called

to Himself, a church that is the true

church. The Scriptures indicate that

there is in the world a counterfeit

church, an organization that claims to

be the true church, but is not; a people

who think they are right, but are wrong.

In our lesson this week we look at the

basic characteristics of a church and

seek to distinguish between the true and

the false. There is the matter of doc-

3—AQT 3-73

trines; true doctrine is contained in

Scripture.

There is the matter of leadership.

What kind of leaders do we expect to

find in the church? Are they faithful

undershepherds?

There are the attitudes to the law of

God. Is the law of God respected as

being binding, or is there an attempt to

modify the law?

What about those who are not in com-

munion with the church? Is there an

attempt to coerce, to compel compli-

ance? Or is there an attitude of love

and understanding?

It is of vital importance to everyone

to be in the true church. We must be

able to distinguish between truth and

error. John the Revelator tells us that

in the last days there will be a call to

leave the false faith, to separate one-

self from a mistaken people: "And I

heard another voice from heaven, saying,

Come out of her, my people, that ye be

not partakers of her sins, and that ye

receive not of her plagues." Rev. 18:4.

The objective of this lesson is to help

us recognize the issues.

A Counterfeit People

LESSON 5



❑

Sunday

July 29



Part 1



"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God fory ou ,

DOCTRINES

brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the be-

ginning

chosen

you to salvation through sanctification of the

2 Thess. 2:13

Spirit and belief of the truth."

Belief of the truth is a vital part of one's relationship with

God. It is not sufficient to be sincere in one's convictions. This

is not to deny the value of sincerity, but sincerity and truth

must go together. 1 Cor. 5:8.

Where is the source of all truth? John 14:6; 2 Tim. 3:16.

John points out the importance of abiding in the doctrine of

Christ; it is the difference between walking with God and not

walking with Him.

"The preaching and teaching of His word is one of the means

that God has ordained for diffusing light; but we must bring

every man's teaching to the test of Scripture. Whoever will

prayerfully study the Bible, desiring to know the truth, that he

may obey it, will receive divine enlightenment."—The

Desire

of Ages,

page 459.

What are some of the teachings that believers of the first

century were warned against? Col. 2:8; 1 John 4:2, 3; Matt.

16:12.

The devil is still active, and he continues to spread lies

about God and about the universe. He tempts men to leave the

truth for the sake of temporal gain. Thus it was with Balaam.

Judas fell into the same trap. "The fate of Balaam was similar

to that of Judas, and their characters bear a marked resem-

blance to each other. Both these men tried to unite the service

of God and mammon, and met with signal

failure."—Patriarchs

and Prophets,

page 452.

Under what condition will a person have assurance of cor-

rect belief? John 7:17.

When a Christian is sincere in wanting to know the truth and

is willing to walk in its light, truth will be revealed to him. It is

for this purpose that the Holy Spirit has been promised.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it that so many people believe error rather than the

truth? Can we blame others, or should we blame ourselves

when we are deceived?

"Rome withheld the Bible from the people and required all

men to accept her teachings in its place. It was the work of

the Reformation to restore to men the word of God; but is it

not too true that in the churches of our time men are taught

to rest their faith upon their creed and the teachings of their

church rather than on the Scriptures?"—The

Great Contro-

versy,

page 388.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 521-524.

A Counterfeit People

LESSON 5



❑

Monday

July 30

Part 2

LEADERS

John 10:11

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep."

Jesus set the pattern of true leadership. Not only were His

teachings sound, but His example was faultless. He came to

serve, rather than to be served, even to the ultimate sacrifice

of giving His life for His people.

What distinction did Jesus make between leadership among

His followers and leadership in the world? Mark 10:42-45.

"Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles.

He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to

bear the infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, educa-

tion, placed their possessor under the greater obligation to

serve his fellows."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 550.

What do the following examples suggest are some of the

duties of the leader in the church? 1 Peter 5:2; Ezek. 33:8.

The spiritual leader is not only to teach sound doctrine and

feed his congregation; he has also to rebuke and warn. Through

the prophet Ezekiel, God points out the serious consequences

to a watchman who is not faithful in his duties.

What do the following passages suggest are the kind of

leaders the wicked usually look for? Isa. 30:10; 2 Tim. 4:3, 4.

Wicked or indifferent people do not want to hear the truth,

because the truth hurts. They want to hear compliments and

compromises, rationalizations that will enable them to con-

tinue in their present ways and enjoy present pleasures.

The tragedy of the world situation is that there are only too

many leaders who are willing to be popular. They do not

blatantly stand for wrong or error, but they minimize the serious-

ness of sin. They present an attitude of understanding reason-

ableness that wins favor and support.



THINK IT THROUGH



Do we follow a leader because he pleases us, or because

he speaks the truth? Do we attend a church where we are

entertained, or where we are led into service? Why?

"To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to

bear the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the

advancement of the truth, is to reject the means that He has

ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of His

people."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

page 164.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 584-588.

A pounterfetit People

LESSON 5



❑

Tuesday

July 31

Part 3

ATTITUDE TO LAW

Rom. 7:9-12

"For I was alive without the law once: but when the com-

mandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the command-

ment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For

sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and

by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the command-

ment holy, and just, and good."

The true people of God recognize that God's law is a tran-

script of His character. It is therefore perfect and immutable.

It points out sin and may be very unpleasant, but it is never-

theless good. To be rid of sin we do not get rid of the law, but

we must be rid of the basic cause for sinning.

What does Paul say about the law itself and his relation to

it? Rom. 7:9-12.

The law of God has been the subject of attack down through

the centuries. Satan in heaven "sought to prove that God was

unjust, that His law was faulty, and that the good of the uni-

verse required it to be

changed."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 69. He has always tempted man to disobey, with the sug-

gestion that disobedience would lead to freedom and a godlike

status. But Christ came to reveal that God's law cannot be set

aside. Man may have sold himself to Satan by sin, but the

gospel provides the power whereby he may live free from sin

in harmony with God's law. Disobedience can only bring death,

while, obedience brings happiness and joy.

One of Satan's masterpieces of deception is his persuasion

of an organization to claim the power to change God's law.

This development was foreseen by Daniel in vision. Dan. 7:25.

Many commentators and Bible scholars recognize that the

power that thinks it can "change times and laws" is the papacy.

Although the change from keeping the seventh-day Sabbath to

the 'keeping of Sunday in memorial of the resurrection came

early in the history of the church and became a widespread

practice before the papacy was fully developed, yet the papacy

sanctioned the change and has claimed the right to make such

a change.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it that Satan succeeds in deceiving so many people

regarding God's law? How would you show that it is a privilege

to keep God's law?

"In the closing work of God in the earth, the standard of

His law will be again exalted. False religion may prevail, iniq-

uity may abound, the love of many may wax cold, the cross of

Calvary may be lost sight of, and darkness, like the pall of

death, may spread over the world; the whole force of the pop-

ular current may be turned against the truth; plot after plot may

be formed to overthrow the people of God; but in the hour of

greatest peril the God of Elijah will raise up human instru-

mentalities to bear a message that will not be silenced."—

Prophets and Kings,

pages 186,187.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 331-342.

A Counterfeit People

LESSON 5



❑

Wednesday

August I

Part 4

AUTHORITY

Matt. 21:23

"The chief priests and the elders of the people came unto

him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest

thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?"

There are two sources of authority—the human and the

divine. The human source is legitimate, but limited in scope.

The divine source is beyond question. When the Jewish leaders

approached Jesus and asked Him about His authority, they

knew that He had no human authority. When Jesus asked them

about the baptism of John, they were silent, because they did

not want to admit the possibility of a divine commission that

was not subject to the human. But the truth remains that the

highest authority on earth is the authority of God.

When the apostles were asked to desist from preaching

Christ, what did they say? Acts 4:19; 5:29.

In our complex society there are many sources of authority.

There are our parents whom we are expected to honor in har-

mony with the fifth commandment. There are our rulers to whom

we are to be subject. There are spiritual leaders who should

be respected. There is the authority of the church meeting in

counsel and deciding matters in harmony with the Spirit of

God. But we must recognize that anything human is liable to

error, and every decision must be evaluated in terms of God's

overall plans and purposes. Jesus put the matter baldly when

He said: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not

worthy of me." Matt. 10:37.

It is a human trait of character to want to compel obedience.

Some have waged war and gone out to persecute.

What did Jesus say to James and John when they wanted

to call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans be-

cause they had been inhospitable to Jesus? Luke 9:55, 56.

Those who go out to destroy life, however legitimate the

cause may appear, are not following in the footsteps of Jesus.

Any organization, however religious, that "makes war with the

saints" is thereby indicating a spirit that is not of Christ.



THINK IT THROUGH



Although the Christian does not persecute, why is he often

persecuted? 1 John 3:11, 12; 2 Tim. 3:12.

"Jesus does not present to His followers the hope of attain-

ing earthly glory and riches, of living a life free from trial. In-

stead He calls upon them to follow Him in the path of self-denial

and reproach....

"So it will be with all who will live godly in Christ Jesus.

Persecution and reproach await all who are imbued with the

Spirit of Christ. The character of the persecution changes with

the times, but the principle—the spirit that underlies it—is the

same that has slain the chosen of the Lord ever since the days

of Abel."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

page 576.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 39-48.

Part 5

SALVATION:

WORKS OR FAITH?

Eph. 2:8, 9

❑

Thursday

August 2

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man

should boast."

There is an apparent tension between faith and works. Man

has a tendency to want to earn salvation. Yet he is constantly

being reminded that salvation is the result of faith. One thing

is certain: it is Jesus who saves from sin (Matt. 1:21). And a

man shows that he has been saved by the way he lives, that

is, by his works (James 2:18).

What does Paul point out as being characteristic of false

religion? Rom. 1:21-23.

Counterfeit People

LESSON 5

It is worthy of note that Paul points out in his letter to the

Romans that people who follow a false religion do not do so

out of ignorance: "They knew God." They deliberately chose

not to glorify God and not to be grateful for what He has done

for them. Cain doubtless knew God, but he decided not to rec-

ognize Him.

"The class of worshipers who follow the example of Cain

includes by far the greater portion of the world; for nearly

every false religion has been based on the same principle—

that man can depend upon his own efforts for salvation. It is

claimed by some that the human race is in need, not of redemp-

tion, but of development—that it can refine, elevate, and regen-

erate

itself."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 73.

What feature of the parable of the laborers teaches that

salvation does not depend on the amount of good works a

person may have performed? Matt. 20:1-16.

"Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but

the spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with

God. Those who came into the vineyard at the eleventh hour

were thankful for an opportunity to

work."—Christ's Object

Lessons,

page 397.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can the Christian avoid a legalistic approach to the

keeping of the commandments? Why cannot the Christian be

saved without the keeping of the law?

"Before the believer is held out the wonderful possibility of

being like Christ, obedient to all the principles of the law. But

of himself man is utterly unable to reach this condition. The

holiness that God's word declared he must have before he

can be saved is the result of the working of divine grace as he

bows in submission to the discipline and restraining influences

of the Spirit of truth. Man's obedience can be made perfect

only by the incense of Christ's righteousness, which fills with

divine fragrance every act of obedience."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

page 532.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pages 529-538.

A Counterfeit People

LESSON 5



❑

Friday

August 3

Part 6

A WARNING AND

AN ADMONITION

Rev. 18:4

THINK IT THROUGH

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out

of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and

that ye receive not of her plagues."

Just as in the days of Noah people had to make a decision

whether they would go into the ark or not, so in the last days

People are going to be invited to leave a religious organiza-

tion called Babylon, because Babylon represents all that is

against God's truth. This means that everyone must know the

difference between truth and error and must make a decision

for truth.

In the prophecy of the symbolic two-horned beast, what

issue is foretold as facing mankind in the last days? Rev. 13:15.

At the time of the end there will be two classes of people:

those who "worship him that made heaven, and earth" (Rev.

14:7), and those who worship the dragon and the beast and

the image to the beast (Rev. 13:4, 15). The conflict will lead

to economic sanctions and a death decree. Rev. 13:17. One

group has the seal of God, and the other group has the mark

of the beast. Rev. 7:3; 13:16. The Sabbath is a memorial of

creation, and those who keep it indicate that they worship the

Creator of heaven and earth. The mark of the beast must be

a feature that indicates the worship of the beast, and the ac-

ceptance of the beast's authority. Since it is opposed to the

Sabbath, it must mean the keeping of a day distinct from the

Sabbath and authorized by the beast. The keeping of Sunday

under coercion, in direct opposition to the keeping of the Sab-

bath, is the mark of the beast.

Why is it true that Sunday keepers do not now have the

mark of the beast?

"There are many who have never had an opportunity to hear

the special truths for this time. The obligation of the fourth

commandment has never been set before them in its true light.

He who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none

who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the

issues of the controversy."—The

Great Controversy,

page 605.

How do you think the Christian should get ready for the

conflict that is ahead of us? What kind of Sabbath keeping can

be identified with the seal of God?

"Among earth's inhabitants, scattered in every land, there

are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars

of heaven, which appear only at night, these faithful ones will

shine forth when darkness covers the earth and gross darkness

the people.... God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones

that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness, revealing clearly

to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to

His

law."—Prophets and Kings,

pages 188, 189.

FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 613-616.

A FAITHFUL PEOPLE

"And the dragon was wroth with the

woman, and went to make war with

the remnant of her seed, which keep

the the commandments of God, and

have the testimony of. Jesus Christ."

Rev. 12:17.

Although the earth has been filled

with sin since Adam, and many have

not cared about God, there have always

been some who were true and faithful

to God, such as Abraham, Moses, and

Paul.

Faithfulness has two aspects. There

is the aspect of trust and loyalty; and

there is the phase of trustworthiness and

dependability. God's people are faithful

in both of these ways. They have full

trust and confidence in God; and they

can be trusted to do what is right, and

be depended on to be loyal. In our les-

son this week we see God's people

faithful in different ways and circum-

stances. They trust God even though

they experience adversity. They have

confidence that God will always provide

for their needs, that He is leading them

in the right way, even though they may

not understand His providences. They

know that God can protect them and

deliver them, that is, if He sees that

this is for the best interests of all. But

they do not attempt to dictate to God,

or try to determine what God ought to

do for them in every circumstance of

life. This trust and confidence means

that nothing can persuade them to for- ,

sake their God or break His command-

ments. They are faithful, even unto

death. They are the very opposite of

the "faithless and perverse generation"

of Jesus' day. Matt. 17:17. Jesus came

to His own, and His own did not receive

Him (John 1:11), but to as many as re-

ceived Him, to them He gave the power

to become the sons of God (John 1:12); ,

and down through the centuries these

sons of God have been a faithful peo-

ple.

The article by Ellen G. White

which follows this lesson was

printed in the

Review and Herald,

June 27, 1907. "Faithfulness in

Service" is to be read as supple-

mentary material for this week.

A Faithful People

LESSON 6



❑

Sunday

August 5

Part 1

CONSTANT IN

ADVERSITY

Ps. 46:1, 2

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in

trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be re-

moved, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of

the sea."

God's people are a faithful people because God is a faithful

God in whom they can place absolute trust and confidence. God

has chosen them; He loves them; He has made a covenant with

them; and He will keep His word with them forever. Deut. 7:9.

If God is so good to His people, how is it that they often

fall into adverse circumstances? John 16:33.

It is an inevitable part of life in this world that the Christian

will face trouble not of his own making. God is able to protect

and keep believers, but He does not necessarily prevent ar-

rests or imprisonment or unjust treatment. The constancy of the

Christian under trial is part of his witness to a true and loving

God.

What are some of the values of passing through tribulation?

Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 1:4.

Pain is always difficult to bear, but pain and sorrow that re-

sult in good can be welcomed. Can we glory in tribulations as

Paul said he did? Do we recognize that when we pass through

a difficult experience we can sympathize more with other peo-

ple and point them to the source of comfort and help?

What does Peter say is the cause of rejoicing in tribulations?

1 Peter 4:12, 13.

It is paradoxical that people can be happy and contented

while suffering hardships. They are able to do so because they

trust God who has permitted the experiences, and the Holy

Spirit aids them in viewing the situation from a Christian view-

point.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is it that enables a Christian to put up with persecu-

tion and unjust treatment? Do you think a Christian ought to

fight for his rights?

"No cross, no crown. How can one be strong in the Lord

without trials? To have strength we must have exercise. To

have strong faith, we must be placed in circumstances where

our faith will be exercised. . . It is through much tribulation

that we are to enter the kingdom of God. Our Saviour was tried

in every possible way, and yet He triumphed in God contin-

ually. It is our privilege to be strong in the strength of God

under all circumstances and to glory in the cross of Christ."

—Testimonies,

Vol. 3, p. 67.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pages 574-577.

A Faithful People

LESSON 6



❑

Monday

August 6

Part 2

TRUSTING FOR

THEIR NEEDS

Phil. 4:19

"My God shall supply all your need according to his riches

in glory by Christ Jesus."

God's faithful people have the assurance that their needs

will always be supplied. They never have to worry about food

or clothing.

Think: What is the difference between our needs and our

wants? To what extent does God supply our needs? Eph. 3:20.

Sometimes we think of needs as being barest essentials. We

admit that our bread and water are sure. But God is always

generous with His gifts. Consider the situation of Job before

his trials and after. Job 1:1-3; 42:10-16.

What are the dangers of wanting more than one has? 1 Tim.

6:9, 10.

Paul came from a well-to-do family, but when he entered

the service of God, there were times when he was in need.

Apparently he never grumbled. Phil. 4:11, 12.

What was Paul's secret of success in always being content

with what he had? Phil. 4:13.

The apostle points out that godliness with contentment is

great gain. Contrast the human tendency to covet.

"All things are possible to him that believeth; and whatso-

ever things we desire when we pray, if we believe that we

receive them we shall have them. This faith will penetrate the

darkest cloud and bring rays of light and hope to the drooping,

desponding soul. It is the absence of this faith and trust which

brings perplexity, distressing fears, and surmisings of evil. God

will do great things for His people when they put their entire

trust in

Him."—Testimonies,

Vol. 2, p. 140.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is my greatest need?

"Our greatest need is faith in God. When we look on the

dark side we lose our hold on the Lord God of Israel. As the

heart is opened to fears and conjectures, the path of progress

is hedged up by unbelief. Let us never feel that God has for-

saken His work.

"There must be less talking of unbelief, less imagining that

this one and that one is hedging up the way. Go forward in

faith; trust the Lord to prepare the way for His work. Then you

will find rest in

Christ."—Testimonies,

Vol. 7, p. 211.



FURTHER STUDY



Prophets and Kings,

pages 240-243.

A Faithful People

LESSON 6



❑

Tuesday

August 7

Part 3

LOYAL UNDER

STRESS

John 16:33

"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good

cheer; I have overcome the world."

Although the Christian enjoys many privileges, he is not

guaranteed a life of ease. On the contrary, he is assured that

will be the target of animosity in the world. Yet he need not

be distressed. The victory that Christ gained by maintaining

loyalty to God under the trial of hatred by men is a victory that

may be his.

What are some of the troubles that the Christian and the

church may reasonably expect? Luke 21:16.

Satan has always been angry with the people of God, but

in the last days his anger will know no bounds because he

knows that he has a short time. "Satan numbers the world as

his subjects; he has gained control even of many professing

Christians. But here is a little company who are resisting his

supremacy. If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph

would be complete. As he influenced the heathen nations to

destroy Israel, so in the near future he will stir up the wicked

powers of earth to destroy the people of God. Men will be

required to render obedience to human edicts in violation of

the divine

law."—Prophets and Kings,

pages 587, 588.

One of the ways Satan attacks the people of God is to point

out their sins and seek to discourage them. "Satan has an

accurate knowledge of the sins that he has tempted God's

people to commit, and he urges his accusations against them,

declaring that by their sins they have forfeited divine protec-

tion, and claiming that he has the right to destroy them."—

Prophets and Kings,

page 588.

From Zechariah's vision about Joshua the high priest, what

lesson can we learn about the way the Lord defends the be-

liever when the accuser of the brethren presses his claims

against him? Zech. 3:2.

"But while the followers of Christ have sinned, they have

not given themselves up to be controlled by the satanic agen-

cies. They have repented of their sins and have sought the

Lord in humility and contrition; and the divine Advocate pleads

in their

behalf."—Prophets and Kings,

page 589.



THINK IT THROUGH



Is there ever an excuse for doing wrong? What is it that

keeps us loyal to God under great duress? Rom. 8:31-39.

"Zechariah's vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with

peculiar force to the experience of God's people in the closing

up of the great day of atonement. The remnant church will be

brought into great trial and distress. . . .

"Their only hope is in the mercy of God; their only defense

will be

prayer."—Testimonies,

Vol. 5, pp. 472, 473.



FURTHER STUDY



Prophets and Kings,

pages 585-592.

A Faithful People

LESSON 6



❑

Wednesday

August 8

Part 4

GRATEFUL FOR

DELIVERANCE

Rom. 8:38, 39

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,

nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things

to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall

be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ

Jesus our Lord."

God's people know that God is able to deliver them from

any kind of trouble, but whether He will do so in any set of

circumstances is something they cannot determine.

What experience in the Old Testament indicates that God

can, and does deliver, but that, whether He will do so or not,

is not known beforehand? Dan. 3:16-18.

"In vain were the king's threats. He could not turn the men

from their allegiance to the Ruler of the universe. From the

history of their fathers they had learned that disobedience to

God results in dishonor, disaster, and death; and that the fear

of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the foundation of all

true prosperity."—Prophets

and Kings,

pages 507, 508.

What experience in the New Testament gave reason for the

early Christians to rejoice? Acts 12:5, 7, 11, 16.

God's people are convinced that God can deliver; but they

cannot be certain that He will always do so. There were many

times when God's servants were allowed to suffer the ire of

the enemy. John the Baptist was beheaded because of the

fancy and jealousy of a licentious woman. James suffered

martyrdom at the hands of a wicked king. Acts 12:1, 2. One

principle holds true in their lives. They would rather die than

commit a wrong deed. For death is not the greatest tragedy

that can come to anyone; the greatest tragedy is to lose the

fellowship of God and the angels throughout eternity.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it always safe to do the right thing and leave the

outcome of rightdoing in the hands of God? Matt. 10:28.

"In the darkest days, when appearances seem most for-

bidding, have faith in God. He is working out His will, doing

all things well in behalf of His people. The strength of those

who love and serve Him will be renewed day by day."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 482.

"The consistent course is to commit our desires to our all-

wise heavenly Father, and then, in perfect confidence, trust

all to Him. We know that God hears us if we ask according to

His will. But to press our petitions without a submissive spirit

is not right; our prayers must take the form, not of command,

but of intercession."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 230.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pages 597-602.

A Faithful People

LESSON 6



❑

Thursday

August

Part 5

CONFIDENT

BEFORE THE

ENEMY

Ps. 91:5

"Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the

arrow that flieth by day."

Although there are many times when the Christian falls a

victim to the evil intentions of the enemy, there are many more

occasions when he experiences deliverance. Therefore he goes

about his duty, even in dangerous circumstances, with a trust

that all things will work out for good, even if he does not seem

to be protected.

What experience in the Old Testament shows that God pro-

tects His own? 1 Sam. 19:10.

"As Saul's hatred of David increased, he became more and

more watchful to find an opportunity to take his life; but none

of his plans against the anointed of the Lord were successful.

Saul gave himself up to the control of the wicked spirit that

ruled over him; while David trusted in Him who is mighty in

counsel, and strong to

deliver."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page

651

God's deliverance and saving of life does not ensure that

the Christian who receives these blessings will thereafter es-

cape hardships and physical inconveniences. The Christian

looks upon the difficulties he encounters as challenges to fol-

low Jesus, and he sees the beatings he receives as matters of

secondary importance in relation to the accomplishment of

God's purposes. He can even rejoice in tribulation! He takes

as his motto: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Rom.

8:31.

What was Paul's attitude to the vicissitudes of life? 2 Cor.

12:10. Note some of the experiences he went through. 2 Cor.

11:24-27.

This attitude of not caring what may come to one in life's

experience so long as one is right must be frustrating to the

enemy. He finds the Christian invincible in spirit because of a

supreme trust in the goodness of God and in his final victory

over sin.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is the difference between the legitimate trust and

confidence in God and fatalism?

"Remember that you will never reach a higher standard

than you yourself set. Then set your mark high, and step by

step, even though it be by painful effort, by self-denial and

sacrifice, ascend the whole length of the ladder of progress.

Let nothing hinder you. Fate has not woven its meshes about

any human being so firmly that he need remain helpless and in

uncertainty. Opposing circumstances should create a firm de-

termination to overcome

them."—Christ's Object Lessons,

pages 331, 332.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons, "Shall

Not God Avenge His Own?"

pages 164-180.

A Faithful People

LESSON 6



❑

Friday

August 10

Part 6

OBEDIENT IN THE

POWER OF THE

SPIRIT

Phil. 4:13

THINK IT THROUGH

FURTHER STUDY

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

There is one thing that the people of God are absolutely

sure about; and that is that the good that they do is not the

result of any goodness in themselves, but the power of Jesus

that operates in their lives.

How does Paul describe the relationship between himself

and Christ in his daily life? Gal. 2:20.

"Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith.

You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and

the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you

do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His

good pleasure....

"So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We

have no ground for self-exaltation. Our only ground of hope is

in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that

wrought by His Spirit working in and through

us."—Steps to

Christ,

pages 62, 63.

Is there any lack in the Christian when Christ dwells fully

in him? Col. 2:10.

"Through faith in Christ, every deficiency of character may

be supplied, every defilement cleansed, every fault corrected,

every excellence developed."—Education, page 257.

God's people are obedient to God's commandments, not

because of any legalistic attitude of compulsion to do what is

distasteful, but because a power has come into their lives that

makes obedience not only a possibility, but a delight. They

have been transformed from men and women who were dead

in trespasses and sins, to children of God who enjoy the more

abundant life of fellowship with all that is good and beautiful.

What is the difference between having an inferiority complex

and recognizing that Christ is all in all to us?

"Faith is needed in the smaller no less than in the greater

affairs of life. In all our daily interests and occupations the

sustaining strength of God becomes real to us through an abid-

ing

trust."—Education,

page 255.

"Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and

knows best what is for our good. Thus, instead of our own,

it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it

accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in

place of our sinfulness, His righteousness."—Education, page

253.

The Desire of Ages,

pages 668-671.

Faithfulness in Service

ELLEN G. WHITE

The parable of the talents should re-

ceive prayerful, critical attention. By it

we are shown the importance of trading

diligently and conscientiously on our

Lord's goods. Not one thread of self-

fishness is to be woven into his work.

Worldly ambition is not to be cherished.

We are to keep self out of sight, holding

Christ before the world. We are to bring

glory to God by doing our best to be

perfect men and perfect women.

Christ gave the parable of the talents

to show us that all the blessings we

have come from God. Our gifts belong

to him. They are not to be used accord-

ing to human judgment, but according to

the directions given in God's Word. We

are to study how we may use these gifts

for the up-building of the cause of truth.

In the parable our Saviour says, "And

unto one he gave five talents, to an-

other two, and to another one; to every

man according to his several ability."

Here we are shown that different gifts

are entrusted to different individuals.

With the talents given him, be they

many or few, each one is to do his ut-

most to glorify God. Talents improve

and multiply as they are used in the

service of the Master.

In the parable, the one who received

five talents and the one who received

two are represented as trading wisely

on their talents, so that when their Lord

returned, they were able to present to

him that which he had entrusted to

them, together with what they had

gained by trading. And to each were

spoken the words of commendation,

"Well done, thou good and faithful ser-

vant: thou hast been faithful over a few

things, I will make thee ruler over many

things: enter thou into the joy of thy

lord."

"But he that had received one went

and digged in the earth, and hid his

4-AQT 3-73

lord's money." When the time came for

him to render an account, he said,

"Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard

man, reaping where thou hast not sown,

and gathering where thou hast not

strawed: and I was afraid, and went and

hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou

hast that is thine. His lord answered and

said unto him, Thou wicked and sloth-

ful servant, thou knewest that I reap

where I sowed not, and gather where

I have not strawed: thou oughtest there-

fore to have put my money to the ex-

changers, and then at my coming I

should have received mine own with

usury. Take therefore the talent from

him, and give it unto him which hath

ten talents. For unto every one that hath

shall be given, and he shall have abun-

dance: but from him that hath not shall

be taken away even that which he hath."

To-day thousands are doing as the

unfaithful servant did. They live for

self, when God desires them to improve

their abilities for him, that they may

act their part in his work. They excuse

themselves by saying that they have but

one talent. But if used for God, that one

talent would accomplish much. By care-

ful use the slothful servant might have

doubled the talent, which instead of

using he hid in the ground.

This parable shows the need of using

every gift aright. To all comes the op-

portunity of blessing others by speaking

helpful, uplifting words. This is a talent,

and the failure to improve it brings great

loss.

In our work this thought of glorifying

God is to be made prominent. The busi-

ness man is to bring the principles of

heaven into every line of his work. In

all he does the Christlikeness is to be

clearly revealed. He who tills the soil

is to make his work an object-lesson of

the careful, thorough work which must

be done in the culture of the soil of the

heart. The mechanic is to do his very

best, bringing his work as near perfec-

tion as possible.

"He that is faithful in that which is

least is faithful also in much." The Lord

can not unite with those who are care-

less and slothful in their work. He leaves

them to themselves, choosing for his

service those who do well every piece

of work they handle, those who manage

economically, gathering up the frag-

ments, so that nothing will be lost.

Those who work for the Lord must

remember that they are members of the

royal family, and that they are to do all

that their hands find to do as in the

sight of the heavenly universe. Never

must they slight their work, doing it in

such a way that he who has redeemed

them will be ashamed of it. They are to

guard against doing anything that will

lead to carelessness or irreverence.

They are ever to remember the words,

"Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's

building." By following principles of

strict integrity, they are to build up a

symmetrical character.

Christ will increase the talents of

every faithful worker. This is the prin-

ciple he always follows in dealing with

his servants in this world. But the full

honor in store for the one who in this

life works with an eye single to the

glory of God, will not be bestowed until

the day of judgment. Then Christ will

say to him, "Well done, good and faith-

ful servant; thou hast been faithful over

a few things, I will make thee ruler over

many things: enter thou into the joy of

thy Lord."—Review

and Herald,

June

27, 1907.

LESSON 7

August 12-18

JESUS PURIFIES

A PEOPLE

"Christ is waiting with

longing desire for

the manifestation of

Himself in His church.

When the character

of Christ shall be

perfectly reproduced

in His people, then

He will come to claim

them as His own."

—Christ's Object

Lessons,

page 69.

"And every man that hath this hope

in him purifieth himself, even as he is

pure." 1 John 3:3.

God's people look forward to the

second coming of Jesus because that

will be the end of sin and woe, and

they know that they must be pure and

holy to meet a pure and holy God.

Therefore, they seek to put aside every-

thing in their experience that is not in

harmony with the character of Jesus, so

that they will not be ashamed at His

appearing or cause Him to be ashamed

of them.

In our lesson this week we see how

Jesus purifies a people. Our salvation

involves more than forgiveness of sins;

it has to do with transferring a man

from the situation into which he has

fallen because of sin, and making him

worthy and capable of holding the posi-

tion that God intended he should oc-

cupy from the very beginning.

Christ's right to forgive sin is based

on His deity, His being the Lamb slain

from the foundation of the world, and

His absolute sinlessness. God was not

taken unawares by the entrance of sin.

He had made provision for this even-

tuality before sin entered the world. It

was agreed between the Father and the

Son that the Son would take the place

of man and vindicate the character of

God. Jesus, as Son of God and Creator,

not only redeems man but restores him

into the image in which he was created.

Man is not merely a forgiven sinner;

he is a being who has changed family

connections. From being a child born

into sin, he is adopted into the family

of God, and as a son, grows up into

Christ. He becomes a partaker of the

divine nature and walks in the foot-

steps of his Master.

Finally, we see that the disciple of

Jesus is not treated as a slave, but as

a friend. This friendship involves com-

munity of understanding and a sharing

in plans and purposes. In response, man

commits himself to the service of Jesus

and strives for that perfection of char-

acter which is in keeping with the char-

acter of God.

Jesus Purifies a People

LESSON 7



❑

Sunday

August 12

Part 1

HIGH PRIEST

AND INTERCESSOR

Heb. 1:25

THINK IT THROUGH

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost

that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make

intercession for them."

The question is often asked: What is Jesus doing now? The

answer is that He is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary as

our great

High Priest. Heb. 4:14.

On the cross Jesus gained a signal victory over sin, and

by His resurrection He broke the bands of death. Thus He

provided a full and free salvation for everyone, but not everyone

takes advantage of this provision. Many in the end will be lost.

It is only those who repent and believe who will be saved,

saved because what was accomplished on earth by Jesus is

made applicable to them by the priestly ministry of Jesus in

heaven.

"The great Sacrifice had been offered and had been ac-

cepted, and the Holy Spirit which descended on the day of

Pentecost carried the minds of the disciples from the earthly

sanctuary to the heavenly, where Jesus had entered by His

own blood, to shed upon His disciples the benefits of His atone-

ment."—Early Writings,

page 260.

What is it that makes Jesus a faithful High Priest? Heb.

2:17, 18.

In the incarnation Jesus became one with man. He was

tempted in all points possible to man. In this way man is as-

sured that Christ fully understands the plight of man and can

save him "to the uttermost." Therefore we can come "boldly

unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find

grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:16.

The good news of the gospel is not only that Christ died for

us and rose again, but that "he ever liveth to make interces-

sion" for us. Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34. He is the one Mediator

between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5); and as He intercedes for

His true disciples, they are assured that their names will not

be blotted out of the book of life. Rev. 3:5.

What is the work of an intercessor? What will happen on

earth when Christ's work of intercession ceases?

"When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the in-

habitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must

live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The

restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and

Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. . . . Satan

will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great,

final trouble.. . . The whole world will be involved in ruin more

terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old."—The

Great Controversy,

page 614.

FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 489-491.

Jesus Purifies a People

LESSON 7



❑

Monday

August 13

Part 2

THE LAMB SLAIN

John 1:29

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the

world."

Jesus is not only the High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary;

He is also the offering. "As in the typical service the high

priest laid aside his pontifical robes and officiated in the white

linen dress of an ordinary priest; so Christ laid aside His royal

robes and garbed Himself with humanity and offered sacrifice,

Himself the priest, Himself the victim."—The

Acts of the Apos-

tles,

page 33.

Why did Jesus have to die in order to save humanity? Heb.

9:22.

"The Lord does not save sinners by abolishing His law, the

foundation of His government in heaven and in earth. The pun-

ishment has been endured by the sinner's substitute. Not that

God is cruel and merciless, and Christ so merciful that He died

on Calvary's cross to abolish a law so arbitrary that it needed

to be extinguished, crucified between two thieves. The throne

of God must not bear one stain of crime, one taint of sin. In

the councils of heaven, before the world was created, the

Father and the Son convenanted together that if man proved

disloyal to God, Christ, one with the Father, would take the

place of the transgressor, and suffer the penalty of justice that

must fall upon him."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible

Commentary,

Vol. 6, p. 1070.

What kind of Iamb was offered in the temple service? Ex.

12:5.

"Every morning and evening a lamb of a year old was burned

upon the altar.... Only an offering 'without blemish' could be

a symbol of His perfect purity who was to offer Himself as a

'Iamb without blemish and without spot.'

"—Patriarchs and

Prophets,

page 352.

Since Christ has done so much for us, what did Paul appeal

that we should do for Him? Rom. 12:1.



THINK IT THROUGH



How do we know that the slaying of the Lamb of God was

not a sign of weakness? Rev. 5:6.

"In the contemplation of Christ we linger on the shore of a

love that is measureless. We endeavor to tell of this love, and

language fails us. We consider His life on earth, His sacrifice

for us, His work in heaven as our advocate, and the mansions

He is preparing for those who love Him, and we can only ex-

claim, 0 the height and depth of the love of Christ!"—The

Acts

of the Apostles,

pages 333, 334.



FURTHER STUDY



The Acts of the Apostles,

pages 225-230.

Jesus Purifies a People

LESSON 7



❑

Tuesday

August 14

Part 3

STANDARD OF

PERFECTION

1 Peter 1:13.16, TEY

THINK IT THROUGH

"So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert, and

set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given

you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Be obedient to God, and

do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had

when you were still ignorant. Instead, be holy in all that you

do, just as God who called you is holy. Scripture says, 'You

must be holy, because I am holy.' "

Since God has done so much for us, it seems only reason-

able that we should devote our lives to Him. Since He, a holy

God, is our pattern, we, His people, must be holy too.

What are the characteristics that Peter counsels his readers

to possess? 1 Peter 1:13-16.

They are mentally active and intelligent about their faith

(cf. 1 Cor. 14:20).

They have a serious purpose and exercise self-control.

They look forward to the second coming of Jesus and

the privileges that will come to them at that time.

They keep God's commandments and seek to do His will

in every phase of their lives.

They turn their backs on the world and its allurements.

They commit themselves to God's service and enjoy com-

munion with Him.

They do all this gladly because they know that they have

been redeemed by the costly sacrifice of Christ. 1 Peter 1:19.

How can the Christian attain such a high standard of Chris-

tian living? 1 Peter 1:23.

Just as a man cannot lift himself up by his bootstraps, so

man cannot change his evil nature by good resolutions; he

must be reborn into another family. The Word that created

the universe must re-create him, and this God has promised to

do for all those who will accept Him.

Why do some people find it difficult to separate themselves

from the world?

"The leaven of truth works a change in the whole man,

making the coarse refined, the rough gentle, the selfish gen-

erous. By it the impure are cleansed, washed in the blood of

the Lamb. Through its life-giving power it brings all there is of

mind and soul and strength into harmony with the divine life.

Man with his human nature becomes a partaker of divinity.

Christ is honored in excellence and perfection of character. As

these changes are effected, angels break forth in rapturous

song, and God and Christ rejoice over souls fashioned after

the divine similitude."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

page 102.

FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons,

"Like Unto Leaven," pages 95-102.

Jesus Purifies a People

LESSON 7



❑

Wednesday

August 15

Part 4

GROWING

INTO CHRIST

2 Peter 3:18

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and

Saviour Jesus Christ."

Everyone is familiar with growth and development. Wherever

there is life, there is growth. Spiritual growth is a phenomenon

just as real as physical growth. It is equally dependent on the

source of all life and subject to similar principles of environ-

ment, nourishment, and nurture.

How dependent is man upon God for all growth? Matt. 6:27.

"In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the

whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air

which circulates around the globe. All who choose to breathe

this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature

of men and women in Christ Jesus."—Steps

to Christ,

page 68.

What is the main element for Christian growth? 1 Peter 2:2.

"If we would live a true Christian life, the conscience must

be quickened by constant contact with the word of God. All

the precious things which at infinite cost God has provided for

us will do us no good; they cannot strengthen us and produce

spiritual growth unless we appropriate them. We must eat the

word of God—make it a part of ourselves."—Testimonies, Vol.

7, p. 195.

How did Jesus say His disciples could grow spiritually?

John 15:4, 5.

"Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,—all depend

upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily,

hourly,—by abiding in Him,—that we are to grow in grace. He

is not only the Author, but the Finisher of our faith. It is Christ

first and last and always."—Steps

to Christ,

page 69.

It is a great privilege to grow and develop. But one must

guard against an inordinate concern about his salvation. "We

should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear

as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away

from the Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your

soul to God, and trust in Him."—Steps

to Christ,

page 72.



THINK IT THROUGH



How should I study the Bible in order to grow in grace?

"Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your

very first work. Let your prayer be, 'Take me, 0 Lord, as wholly

Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy ser-

vice. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.' "

—Steps to Christ,

page 70.



FURTHER STUDY



Steps to Christ,

"Growing Up Into Christ," pages 67-75.

Jesus Purifies a People

LESSON 7



❑

Thursday

August 16

Part 5

IN HIS STEPS

1 Peter 2:21

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow

his steps."

Just as children resemble their parents in a number of char-

acteristics, so God's people are to be distinguished by living

on earth just as Jesus lived.

What is one reason that it is important for the Christian to

live a Christlike life? Matt. 4:19.

"It is not only by preaching the truth, not only by distribut-

ing literature, that we are to witness for God. Let us remember

that a Christlike life is the most powerful argument that can be

advanced in favor of Christianity, and that a cheap Christian

character works more harm in the world than the character of

a worldling. . . . Men will believe, not what the minister

preaches, but what the church

lives."—Testimonies,

Vol. 9,

p. 21.

What is the evidence to the world that a believer is a true

Christian? John 13:35.

"No value is attached to a mere profession of faith in Christ;

only the love which is shown by works is counted genuine. Yet

it is love alone which in the sight of Heaven makes any act of

value."—The

Great Controversy,

page 487.

"The law of love calls for the devotion of body, mind, and

soul to the service of God and our fellow men. And this service,

while making us a blessing to others, brings the greatest bless-

ing to ourselves."—Education, page 16.

With what two features does Luke sum up the earthly life

of Jesus? Acts 10:38.

Just as Jesus lived to bless others, so the Christian is to be

a center of love, light, and comfort to all. Isa. 58:7, 8. "Prac-

tical work will have far more effect than mere sermonizing.

. . . If Christ is abiding in us, our hearts will be full of divine

sympathy. The sealed fountains of earnest, Christlike love will

be unsealed."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

page 417.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is a loving and lovable Christian the strongest argument

for Christianity?

"The badge of Christianity is not an outward sign, not the

wearing of a cross or a crown, but it is that which reveals the

union of man with God. By the power of His grace manifested

in the transformation of character the world is to be convinced

that God has sent His Son as its Redeemer. No other influence

that can surround the human soul has such power as the in-

fluence of an unselfish life."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page

470.



FURTHER STUDY



The Ministry of Healing,

pages 25-28.

Jesus Purifies a People

LESSON 7



❑

Friday

August 17

Part 6

FRIENDS RATHER

THAN SERVANTS

John 15:15

THINK IT THROUGH

What evidence did Jesus give of the disciples' status as His

friends?

"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth

not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all

things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto

you."

The prodigal son returned to his father and offered to be

one of his hired servants. But the father would not think of it.

He treated him like an honored son, and rejoiced that he had

returned. So it is with Jesus and His people. He died for them;

He pleads for them; He treats them much better than they

deserve; and then He takes them into His counsel and con-

siders them His friends.

What was the relationship of God to Moses that prompted

the analogy of human friendship to describe it? Ex. 33:11.

What made Abraham a friend of God? James 2:23.

"Abraham, 'the friend of God,' set us a worthy example. His

was a life of prayer. Wherever he pitched his tent, close beside

it was set up his altar, calling all within his encampment to the

morning and evening sacrifice. When his tent was removed,

the altar remained. In following years, there were those among

the roving Canaanites who received instruction from Abraham;

and whenever one of these came to that altar, he . . . repaired

the altar and there worshiped the living

God."—Patriarchs

and Prophets,

page 128.

What has Jesus revealed to His friends?

"What is our profession? We profess to be following Christ.

We claim to be Christians. Do we, then, reveal the Christlike-

ness? Do we serve the Saviour intelligently? Does the love of

God continually flow from us to others? Do we, in word and

action, confess our Redeemer? Do we conform our lives to His

holy principles? Are we pure and undefiled? Christians must

hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end. It is

not enough to profess the faith. There must be a patient en-

durance of all trials and a brave resistance to all temptations.

Faith can be maintained only by bringing the Christian religion

to the test of practice, thus demonstrating its transforming

power and the faithfulness of its promises."—Ellen G. White

Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

Vol. 7, pp. 928, 929.

FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 128-134.

CONFIDENT

PEOPLE

LESSON 8

August 19-25

"It is better to trust in the Lord than

to put confidence in man." Ps. 118:8.

In our lesson this week we see how

people turn away from God and place

their confidence in things other than

God. Some think that their ancestry

gives them an element of superiority.

Others are impressed by their riches

and material success and see no need

to depend upon God for their future

plans. Still others are meticulous about

the way they fulfill their religious obli-

gations, and, because they have kept

the commandments, they think they will

doubtless enter the kingdom. Others

again feel that they know the right peo-

ple and can make the right alliances to

be able to succeed in their ventures.

They pride themselves in their prowess

and achievement, so that they have no

sense of dependence upon God.

These same people may profess faith

in God and feel spiritually secure. Their

fervor and zeal are often exemplary. Yet

they are wholly mistaken, and their con-

fidence is misplaced.

How can such people be warned?

The objective of this lesson is to point

out the areas of danger and indicate,

by contrast, the right pathway, so that

those who accept the Bible as the norm

of their conduct will be duly warned and

rightly directed. We need to be God's

people in the sense that we put our

trust wholly in God, and not be self-

confident people, who place confidence

in themselves and what they can

achieve.

The article by Ellen G. White

which follows this lesson was

printed in the

Review and Herald,

Sept. 27, 1892. "Need of Depend-

ence on God" is to be read as

supplementary material for this

week.

A Confident People

LESSON 8



❑

Sunday

August 19

Part 1

CONFIDENCE

IN ANCESTRY

Matt. 3:9

"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham

to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones

to raise up children unto Abraham."

Ancestry can be a great privilege, and family connections

are always important, but when it comes to salvation it is the

personal decision that is vital.

What claims could Paul make as far as family connections

were concerned, and what was his attitude toward them? Phil.

3:4-7.

We must not deny the advantages that come to us as a result

of inheritance. We can always thank God for good constitutions,

strong mental powers, and an environment in which we have

learned of the truth from early years. But these blessings come

as challenges, and lay solemn responsibilities upon us to live

up to the light and the privileges we enjoy. They are talents

that we can use to God's glory. It is when we assume that be-

cause we have these things we can automatically enter the

kingdom that we make a mistake.

What was the teaching of Jesus in regard to family connec-

tions and salvation? John 8:39; Matt. 8:11, 12.

"Christ recognized no virtue in lineage. He taught that spir-

itual connection supersedes all natural connection. The Jews

claimed to have descended from Abraham; but by failing to do

the works of Abraham, they proved that they were not his true

children. Only those who prove themselves to be spiritually

in harmony with Abraham by obeying the voice of God, are

reckoned as of true descent."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

page

268.

"The Jews regarded their natural descent from Abraham

as giving them a claim to this promise. But they overlooked

the conditions which God had specified."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 106.



THINK IT THROUGH



Should we blame the Jew today for the mistakes his ances-

tors made many centuries ago? Why is it not right to claim a

right to heaven on the basis of parentage?

"To a people in whose hearts His law is written, the favor

of God is assured. They are one with Him. But the Jews had

separated themselves from God. Because of their sins they

were suffering under His judgments. This was the cause of

their bondage to a heathen nation. Their minds were darkened

by transgression, and because in times past the Lord had

shown them so great favor, they excused their sins. They flat-

tered themselves that they were better than other men, and

entitled to His blessings."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 106.



FURTHER STUDY



Education,

pages 64-68.

A Confident People

LESSON 8



❑

Monday

August 20

Part 2

CONFIDENCE

IN WORKS

Luke 18:9

"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in

themselves that they were righteous, and despised others."

it is very easy to take pride in what we have done, especially

when people praise us. This does not mean that we should

cease to do good works, but it does mean that when people

compliment us we should be sure to give God the glory.

On what basis will some religious people seek entrance to

the kingdom of God? Matt. 7:21-23. What does Jesus say to "

them? Verse 23.

"Saddest of all words that ever fell on mortal ear are those

words of doom, 'I know you not.'

"—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 413.

The relationship between works and faith is an important

one. It is possible to engage in works without faith, but this

kind of activity is worthless. Some people emphasize faith to

the detriment of works, but this is also false. James 2:20. Works

must be the natural result of the life of faith, the fruit that is

borne by one who abides in Christ. John 15:4.

What was one result of certain Jews taking pride in their

righteousness? Luke 18:9.

"Whoever trusts in himself that he is righteous, will despise

others. As the Pharisee judges himself by other men, so he

judges other men by himself. His righteousness is estimated

by theirs, and the worse they are the more righteous by con-

trast he appears. His self-righteousness leads to accusing.

. . . Thus he is making manifest the very spirit of Satan, the

accuser of the brethren. With this spirit it is impossible for

him to enter into communion with

God."—Christ's Object Les-

sons,

page 151.

Most false religions teach that one moves upward by coun-

terbalancing evil deeds with righteous ones, that a surplus of

righteous deeds will ensure salvation. But the Bible teaches

otherwise. Ezek. 33:13-16. A man determines his destiny by his

decisions, not his works.



THINK IT THROUGH



What should we do when we do not feel like keeping the

Sabbath or paying the tithe? Should we discipline ourselves

to do what is right?

"No outward observances can take the place of simple faith

and entire renunciation of self. But no man can empty himself

of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work.

Then the language of the soul will be, Save me in spite of

myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Lord, take my heart; for I

cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot

keep it for Thee. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure

and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can

flow through my

soul."—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 159.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons, "Two Worshipers,"

pages 150-163.

Confident People

LESSON 8



❑

Tuesday

August 21

Part 3

CONFIDENCE

IN RICHES

Luke 12:20

"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall

be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which

thou hast provided?"

Contrary to the opinion of many, a man's life is not fulfilled

when he owns many things. Rather, his many possessions may

be a source of embarrassment.

What dangers does Paul point out as inherent in the desire

for money? 1 Tim. 6:9, 10.

Riches are often thought of as a kind of insurance in a world

where nothing seems to be sure. But many have found to their

sorrow that riches can disappear overnight. We are not to

strive for riches, although wealth may come our way as a result

of God's blessing or of God's test. Our trust must be placed

in the living God.

Why did a would-be follower of Jesus make the wrong deci-

sion? Luke 18:23-25.

"The lover of self is a transgressor of the law. This Jesus

desired to reveal to the young man, and He gave him a test

that would make manifest the selfishness of his heart. He

showed him the plague spot in his character. The young man

desired no further enlightenment. He had cherished an idol

in the soul; the world was his god. He professed to have kept

the commandments, but he was destitute of the principle which

is the very spirit and life of them all. He did not possess true

love for God or man. This want was the want of everything that

would qualify him to enter the kingdom of heaven. In his love

of self and worldly gain he was out of harmony with the prin-

ciples of

heaven."—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 392.

What is the believer's true wealth? James 2:5.

There is no virtue in poverty for poverty's sake, although

many Christians have given up their wealth for the sake of the

gospel. The point is that the Christian must center his life on

Christ and His service, and not on the world and what the

world can offer.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it that some people are materially rich and some

are poor?

"To the rich no less than to the poor are the words of the

Holy Spirit spoken, 'Ye are not your own; for ye are bought

with a price.' 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. When men believe this, their

possessions will be held as a trust, to be used as God shall

direct, for the saving of the lost, and the comfort of the suffer-

ing and the poor. . . . By beholding the matchless love of

Christ, the selfish heart will be melted and subdued."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

page 394.



FURTHER STUDY



Christ's Object Lessons, "The Reward of Grace,"

pages

390-395.

A Confident People

LESSON 8



111 Wednesday

August

Part 4

CONFIDENCE

IN FALSEHOOD

kr. 28:15

"Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet,

Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou

makest this people to trust in a lie."

Strange as it may seem, some people would rather believe

a lie than the truth. This was the case in the days of Jeremiah

when the people were told that they would have to go into

captivity because of their sin, but they did not want to acknowl-

edge their sin or accept their fate. See Jer. 27:6-11. Hananiah's

fate was certainly a terrible one, and a warning to all time-

servers.

What kind of people will definitely be outside the kingdom

of heaven? Rev. 21:27.

We are told that in the latter days people "will not stand

wholesome teaching, but will follow their own fancy and gather

a crowd of teachers to tickle their ears. They will stop their

ears to the truth and turn to mythology." 2 Tim. 4:3, 4, NEB.

Paul, writing to the Romans, points out that everyone can

know about God because nature reveals ''his eternal power

and Godhead." Rom. 1:20. When people turn away from God,

it is not because of ignorance, but by deliberate choice. The

result of such decision is clearly shown in verses 22-32.

The apostle John tells us that Jesus is the "true Light, which

lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9), so

that those who do not accept the light are those who do not

want to see it.

What power did Paul describe as coming before the second

coming of Jesus? 2 Thess. 2:3-11.

It is those who do not love the truth in order to be saved

that will be deceived by the mystery of iniquity (2 Thess. 2:10).

Their decision having been made, God sends them a strong

delusion and they "believe a lie," apparently with all sincerity.

We must not be deceived by sincerity, but differentiate between

truth and error.



THINK IT THROUGH



In view of the widespread acceptance of error, what do you

think the Christian ought to be doing?

"I saw that God has honest children among the nominal

Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues

shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out

from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan

knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given,

he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those

who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them.

He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them

to think that

God is still working for the churches. But the light will shine,

and all who are honest will leave the fallen churches, and take

their stand with the remnant."—Early

Writings,

page 261.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 596-600.

Confident People

LESSON 8



❑

Thursday

August 23

Part 5

CONFIDENCE

IN NUMBERS

Deut. 1:1

"The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you,

because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were

the fewest of all people."

There is nothing wrong in numbers, for there are myriads

of angels that serve God; and God promised Abraham that his

seed would be "as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand

which is upon the sea shore." Gen. 22:17. What is dangerous

is that we place confidence in numbers rather than in God.

What experience of the children of Israel shows that God

does not need numbers in order to grant a victory? Judges

7:2-7.

People generally feel more confident when they have num-

bers on their side. They feel that large numbers, of people

cannot be wrong. But truth is not always with the majority;

often it is with the minority. Therefore a person must know

what he believes because he understands the truth and he has

asked the Holy Spirit to guide him.

"In comparison with the millions of the world, God's people

will be, as they have ever been, a little flock; but if they stand

for the truth as revealed in His word, God will be their refuge.

They stand under the broad shield of Omnipotence. God is

always a majority."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

page 590.

What was the true secret of success for Judah after the

exile? Zech. 4:6.

"As the chosen people of God we cannot copy the habits,

aims, practices, or fashions of the world. We are not left in

darkness to pattern after worldly models and to depend on

outward appearance for success. . . . As the Lord sees fit, He

imparts to those who keep His way, power that enables them

to exert a strong influence for good. On God they are depen-

dent, and to Him they must give an account of the way in which

they use the talents He has entrusted to

them."—Testimonies,

Vol. 7, p. 90.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it unsafe to gauge the importance of a church by the

number of its members?

"Not in our learning, not in our position, not in our numbers

or entrusted talents, not in the will of man, is to be found the

secret of success. Feeling our inefficiency we are to contem-

plate Christ, and through Him who is the strength of all strength,

the thought of all thought, the willing and obedient will gain

victory after victory."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

page 404.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 459, 460.

A Confident People

LESSON 8



❑

Friday

August 24

"Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three

thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people

to labour thither; for they are but few."

After the signal capture of Jericho the children of Israel

felt they could take Ai without any difficulty. "The great vic-

tory that God had gained for them had made the Israelites

self-confident. Because He had promised them the land of

Canaan they felt secure, and failed to realize that divine help

alone could give them success. Even Joshua laid his plans for

the conquest of Ai without seeking counsel from

God."—Pa-

triarchs and Prophets,

page 493.

On whom did Jesus depend? John 5:30.

"Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He

accepted God's plans for Him, and day by day the Father un-

folded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our

lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit

our ways to Him, He will direct our steps."—The

Ministry of

Healing,

page 479.

What danger is there in self-confidence? 1 Cor. 10:12.

"Those who accept Christ, and in their first confidence say,

I am saved, are in danger of trusting to themselves. They lose

sight of their own weakness and their constant need of divine

strength. They are unprepared for Satan's devices, and under

temptation many, like Peter, fall into the very depths of sin.

. . . Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and de-

pendence on Christ."—Christ's

Object Lessons,

page 155.

Self-confidence often leads to dogmatism, and dogmatism

leads to persecution. While the church needs to be positive

in its teaching, it must never be arrogant or make claims for

itself that cannot be substantiated. The power of the church

is not in its size or wealth or position, but in its close connec-

tion with God as His appointed agency for the salvation of men.



THINK IT THROUGH



When

it proper to have a reasonable confidence in one-

self, and when is it dangerous?

"As men rejoice in the freedom which the truth brings them,

they are inclined to extol those whom God has employed to

break the chains of error and superstition. Satan seeks to

divert men's thoughts and affections from God, and to fix them

upon human agencies; He leads them to honor the mere in-

strument and to ignore the Hand that directs all the events of

providence. Too often religious leaders who are thus praised

and reverenced lose sight of their dependence upon God and

are led to trust in themselves. As a result they seek to control

the minds and consciences of the people, who are disposed

to look to them for guidance instead of looking to the word

of God."—The

Great Controversy,

pages 169, 170.



FURTHER STUDY



Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 633-636.

Part 6

CONFIDENCE

IN SELF

Joshua 1:3

Need of Dependence on God

ELLEN G. WHITE

Jesus said: "I am the true Vine, and

my Father is the husbandman. Every

branch in me that beareth not fruit he

taketh away: and every branch that

beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may

bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken

unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As

the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine; no more can

ye, except ye abide in me."

We should constantly feel our depen-

dence upon the Lord God of Israel, and

know that God is our strength, and that

the more we depend upon him, the more

we shall draw from Christ, the living

Vine, and have the mind that was in

Christ. Our experience will be after the

character of that upon which we feed

spiritually. If we feed upon Christ, we

shall have a Christlike experience: and

we cannot afford to make any mistake

in regard to our experience here in the

things of God; for eternal interests are

involved. In the path of life we may go

carelessly, stumbling along; we may

make crooked paths for our feet; but it

will be at the terrible loss of our own

souls and the souls of others. We are

running the risk of losing the eternal

weight of glory when we do not follow

Christ, and we cannot afford to do this,

because it would have been better for

us had we never been born, than to lose

eternal life.

We need to know and may know that

Christ is abiding in our hearts by faith,

and that we are abiding in Jesus by

faith. Jesus says, "I am the Vine, ye are

the branches. He that abideth in me,

and I in him, the same bringeth forth

much fruit." Now listen to the conclu-

sion of the verse: "For without me ye

can do nothing." From this you can see

how our Lord Jesus Christ regards un-

sanctified, human ability. We may have

an education in the sciences, we may

have all the knowledge in the world, and

yet if it is not sanctified, if it is not

brought under contribution to God, if we

are not depending upon his merits every

moment, if we are not continually draw-

ing from Christ, we cannot live the life

of Christ; we can do nothing worthy of

his name. We want to hear the voice

of Jesus and invite his presence. We

should open the door of the heart to

Christ, and invite him to come in. He

says, "Without me ye can do nothing."

Is it because men work without Christ

that we see so many efforts made with-

out accomplishing any good? Is it be-

cause man depends upon his own ef-

forts, and his own power, and thinks

that he can do great things of himself?

I know that this is why the Lord can do

so little for man. He uses the gifts of

God as weapons to destroy himself. We

want Jesus simply, Jesus who offers

himself to us as a free gift; and if we

accept the offering with the whole heart

and soul, we shall praise God at every

step, we cannot help it, because he has

given us this manifestation of his love

and condescension. What we want is

Jesus, and the power of his grace; and

may God baptize us with his Holy Spirit.

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast

forth as a branch, and is withered; and

men gather them, and cast them into the

fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in

me, and my words abide in you, ye shall

ask what ye will, and it shall be done

unto you."

That is a wonderful promise, "If ye

abide in me, and my words"—be care-

ful to take that in—"my words abide in

you." How are we to know that the

words of Christ are abiding in us? how

are we to understand them? It is by

appropriating his promises to our souls

that we feed upon Christ. We are to

study his words carefully, and be doers

of his word. Many trust in a flight of

feeling, and think that in order to be

accepted of God, they must have some

special emotion come upon them, or

they do not have the grace of Christ.

But this is not what we are to look for.

Jesus came that we might obey as well

as receive; but we must believe in him,

and receive, in order to obey. We are

to ask, Are his words cherished by us?

Are we doers of the word of Christ? This

is an important question. If we are fol-

lowing the light just as far as it shines

upon our pathway, if we are seeking to

do the will of our heavenly Father, just

so surely shall we be prepared for

greater light to come into the heart and

mind. Especially will this be the case

when we are prayerfully searching the

Scriptures. We have had the Spirit of

God here in this meeting; we would dis-

honor God if we did not appreciate this,

and praise his holy name that we have

felt the manifestation of his Spirit in

power.

Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto

you, He that believeth on me hath ever-

lasting life, I am that bread of life. . . .

I am the living bread which came down

from heaven: if any man eat of this

bread, he shall live forever: and the

bread that I will give is my flesh, which

I will give for the life of the world. . . .

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily,

verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the

flesh of the Son of man, and drink his

blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso

eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,

hath eternal life; and I will raise him up

at the last day. For my flesh is meat

indeed, and my blood is drink indeed."

When some of the disciples were of-

fended at these sayings of Christ, he

said: "It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing: the words

that I speak unto you, they are spirit,

and they are life." The word of Christ

is spirit and life, and the more knowl-

edge we have of his word, the more

vigorous will be our spiritual growth.

Many are singing beautiful songs in

the meetings, songs of what they will

do, and what they mean to do; but some

do not do these things; they do not

sing with the spirit and the understand-

ing also. So in the reading of the word

of God, some are not benefited, because

they do not take it into their very life,

they do not practice it. We listen to the

presentation of truth, it is all good; but

do we listen to it as we would to a

pleasant song, or receive it as the voice

of God to us, and obey its precepts?

Many go away after listening to the

most solemn messages of truth, and pur-

sue the same careless, unsanctified

course they did before, as though they

had not heard the appeal of God to

them. They go away and live to please

themselves, live to suit their own fancy,

in a way directly opposed to the way

and will of God. We should not seek to

follow our own way; we have had ,

enough of that; it amounts only to weak-

ness. We need to have the Holy Spirit

of God with us moment by moment. And

where are we to find our soul consola-

tion? In a happy flight of feeling?-0

no; we are by faith to partake of the

sincere milk of the word, that we may

grow thereby, becoming partakers of

the divine nature, and escape the cor-

ruption that is in the world through lust.

I want to know more and more of

God's word and of his works. I do not

want to build myself up in myself; for

I am nothing. What I desire is to know

the ways of the Lord. I do not wish to

be so particular as to how my house is

furnished; spending unnecessary time

and money, so that everything may be

just to my taste in this or that arrange-

ment, and neglect the all-important

question, Is it well with my soul? What

is the order of my soul? Is the soul

temple pure? Is the defilement of sin

in my heart? Have I felt the necessity

of cleansing my heart from all impurity?

It is of the greatest importance to un-

derstand and practice the truth; for this

sanctifies the soul. Our greatest anxiety

should be to stand perfect before the

Lord, clothed in the spotless garments

of Christ's righteousness.

Souls are perishing for the bread of

life, and every one of us should be en-

gaged in earnest work for the Master.

Jesus came into the world to be our

example, and we should study and imi-

tate his life. Moments are golden, and

we should constantly guard ourselves,

lest we make a world of an atom, and

an atom of a world. We should guard

ourselves, lest we fail to magnify the

things of eternal interest, and fail to ap-

preciate the blessings of heaven. Why

is it that the truth as it is in Jesus is

made of so little importance? The words

of Paul to the Galatians apply to those

who fail to discern the worth of spiritual

things, "0 foolish Galatians, who hath

bewitched you, that ye should not obey

the truth?" Why is it that you do not

walk in the light? Why is it that you per-

mit the bewitching power of Satan to

paralyze your spiritual energies? The

influence of the world holds many of

you in captivity. Satan has his allure-

ments presented before every one pro-

fessing the name of Christ, that if pos-

sible he may attract the mind from

Jesus, and fasten it on the things of

this world. He is the master of manifold

temptations, and is prepared to find ac-

cess to the hearts of those who have

not made a complete surrender to

Christ. Shall the enemy of all righteous-

ness have possession of our souls?

The Christian should continually real-

ize that every moment of life should be

spent for the Master. We should not live

to glorify ourselves; for it would be sin

to serve self. Our life must be hid with

Christ in God, that every power of our

being, every talent given of God, may

be used to aid on the influences that

are constantly flowing heavenward. It

is for us to fulfill the command, "Thou

shalt worship the Lord thy God, and

him only shalt thou serve." Christ must

be our only master, abiding in our hearts

by living faith, that we may be laborers

together with God. We should seek to

know more of him day by day, dwelling

upon his matchless charms, till by be-

holding, we become changed into his

glorious image. We are to keep our eyes

fixed upon the Author and Finisher of

our salvation.

John says, "Behold, what manner of

love the Father hath bestowed upon us,

that we should be called the sons of

God." No language can express this

love; we can describe but a faint de-

gree of love that passeth knowledge. It

would require the language of the In-

finite to express the love that has made

it possible for us to be called the sons

of God. In becoming a Christian, a man

does not step down. There is no shame

in having connection with the living

God. Jesus bore the humiliation and

shame and reproach that justly belonged

to the sinner. He was the Majesty of

heaven, he was the King of glory, he

was equal with the Father; and yet he

clothed his divinity with humanity, that

humanity might touch humanity, that

divinity might lay hold of divinity. Had

he come as an angel, he could not have

been a partaker with us of our suffer-

ings, could not have been tempted in

all points like as we are, he could not

have sympathized with our sorrows; but

he came in the garb of our humanity,

that as our substitute and surety, he

might overcome the prince of darkness

in our behalf, and make us victors

through his merits. Standing under the

shadow of the cross of Calvary, the in-

spiration of his love fills our hearts.

When I look upon Him whom my sins

have pierced, the inspiration from on

high comes upon me; and this inspira-

tion may come upon each one of you

through the Holy Spirit. Unless you re-

ceive the Holy Spirit, you cannot have

the love of God in the soul; but through

a living connection with Christ, we are

inspired with love and zeal and earnest-

ness. We are not as a block of marble,

which may reflect the light of the sun,

but cannot be imbued with life. We are

capable of responding to the bright

beams of the Sun of righteousness; for

as Christ illuminates our souls, he gives

light and life. We drink in the love of

Christ as the branch draws nourishment

from the vine. If we are grafted into

Christ, if fiber by fiber we have been

united with the living Vine, we shall give

evidence of this fact by bearing rich

clusters of fruit. If we are connected

with light, we shall be channels of light,

and in our words and works we shall

reflect light to the world. Those who are

truly Christians, grasp the golden chain

which links earth to heaven, which binds

finite man to the infinite God. The light

that shineth in the face of Jesus, shines

in the hearts of his followers, to the

glory of God.—Review

and Herald,

Sept.

27, 1892.

LESSON 9

August 26 to September 1

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

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JESUS' PEOPLE UNDER ATTACK

"And the woman fled into the wil-

derness, where she hath a place pre-

pared of God, that they should feed

her there a thousand two hundred and

threescore days." Rev. 12:6.

Although God's people are to

lights in a dark world, and their light

is not to be hid, there are times when

the church is compelled to recede into

the background. The attacks of Satan

make this necessary, and although it

would seem that the forces of evil are

gaining the ascendancy, the fact is that

God is in control. He has a place for

His people, a shelter within which the

church can continue to give its witness.

He nourished the church and protected

it from the ravages of the enemy for

twelve hundred and sixty years. Many

commentators agree that this prophecy

in Revelation refers to the period of

papal supremacy from A.D. 538 to A.D.

1798, when the true church was com-

pelled to hide in the mountains and

other secret locations, symbolized in

the Bible as the wilderness.

In our lesson this week we see how

the church must leave the limelight

sometimes because it is the object of

hatred. Jesus Himself had to do the

same thing when He was on earth. But

the church still contends for the faith.

In straitened circumstances it acts

wisely and uncomplainingly. In the

mountains it looks to God as the Source

of all help and faithfully points to the

Bible as the only source of true doc-

trine. Although the time of persecution

is long, God's people endure hardness

like good soldiers, trusting that their

General knows what is best and will

lead to victory. Satan in his fury seeks

to put an end to the church, but his

purposes are frustrated. God has a

thousand ways to give deliverance of

which men are not aware.

Finally the church emerges trium-

phant as it always has and always must

do, for "this is the victory that over-

cometh the world, even our faith."

1 John 5:4. God's people know that

even though Satan goes about like a

roaring lion, he is a defeated foe.

Jesus' People Under Attack

LESSON 9



❑

Sunday

August 26

Part 1

SHINING IN THE

BACKGROUND

Luke 21:12, 13, RSV

THINK IT THROUGH

"But before all this they will lay their hands on you and

persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and

prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors

for my name's sake. This will be a time for you to bear testi-

mony."

Jesus told His disciples that they would be the object of

hatred and persecution. At the same time He assured them

of His protection and help. The apostle John foresaw the con-

flict between the dragon and the church and indicated that the

church would have to flee into the wilderness.

What do the following verses suggest as to why God's

people are the object of the hatred of the world? 1 John 3:12;

John 3:20.

"The brighter the heavenly light that is reflected from the

character of God's faithful servants, the more clearly the sins

of the ungodly are revealed, and the more determined will be

their efforts to destroy those who disturb their

peace."—Pa-

triarchs and Prophets,

page 74.

It is interesting to note that the devil with all his fury cannot

frustrate God's plans. Even in prison, the people of God have

a joy that cannot be quenched, and God's work goes forward.

Why are adverse circumstances a cause of joy for the Chris-

tian? James 1:2-4.

The Christian does not seek persecution. He prays: "Lead

us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Matt. 6:13. He

knows how weak he is, and so seeks protection from anything

that would cause him to fall. Yet in the moment of trial he

counts it a privilege to be able to suffer for the truth and give

his testimony to the One who has saved him from sin to walk

in the path of righteousness.

Why is it that some people seem to suffer much more than

others?

"Life is disciplinary. While in the world, the Christian will

meet with adverse influences. There will be provocations to

test the temper; and it is by meeting these in a right spirit that

the Christian graces are developed. If injuries and insults are

meekly borne, if insulting words are responded to by gentle

answers, and oppressive acts by kindness, this is evidence

that the Spirit of Christ dwells in the heart, that sap from the

living Vine is flowing to the branches. We are in the school of

Christ in this life, where we are to learn to be meek and lowly

of heart; and in the day of final accounts we shall see that all

the obstacles we meet, all the hardships and annoyances that

we are called to bear, are practical lessons in the application

of principles of Christian

life."—Testimonies,

Vol. 5, p. 344.

FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 606-610.

Jesus' People Under Attack

LESSON 9



❑

Monday

August 27

Part 2

CONTENDING

FOR THE FAITH

Jude 3, RSV

"Beloved, being very eager to write to you of our common

salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to

conterid for the faith which was once for all delivered to the

saints."

Even under adversity the Christian is to contend for his faith.

There is no suggestion that in difficult circumstances the Chris-

tian might find it expedient to hide his identity. His witness to

the faith is more important than life itself.

What is the result of either proclaiming or hiding one's faith

in Jesus? Matt. 10:32, 33.

We value our lives very highly, and it is natural to try to save

our lives at any cost. Satan knows this and therefore attacks

us at this point. But we must differentiate between this tem-

poral life and eternal life. The real tragedy is not to die now,

but to die eternally.

Whom did Jesus say we should fear? Matt. 10:28.

"What was the strength of those who in the past have suf-

fered persecution for Christ's sake? It was union with God,

union with the Holy Spirit, union with Christ. Reproach and

persecution have separated many from earthly friends, but

never from the love of Christ.... When for the truth's sake the

believer stands at the bar of earthly tribunals, Christ stands

by his side. When he is confined within prison walls, Christ

manifests Himself to him and cheers his heart with His love.

When he suffers death for Christ's sake, the Saviour says to

him, They may kill the body, but they cannot hurt the soul."

—The Acts of the Apostles,

page 85.

The martyrdom of the Christian is not the end of his life or

influence. It has rightly been said that the blood of the martyrs

is the seed of the church.



THINK IT THROUGH



What are ways in which a Christian may deny his Lord?

"He who would confess Christ must have Christ abiding in

him. He cannot communicate that which he has not received.

The disciples might speak fluently on doctrines, they might

repeat the words of Christ Himself; but unless they possessed

Christlike meekness and love, they were not confessing Him.

A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ would deny Him, what-

ever the profession. Men may deny Christ by evilspeaking, by

foolish talking, by words that are untruthful or unkind. They

may deny Him by shunning life's burdens, by the pursuit of

sinful pleasure. They may deny Him by conforming to the world,

by uncourteous behavior, by the love of their own opinions, by

justifying self, by cherishing doubt, borrowing trouble, and

dwelling in darkness. In all these ways they declare that Christ

is not in them."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 357.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 97, 98.

Jesus' People Under Attack

LESSON 9



❑

Tuesday

August 28

Part 3

LOOKING TO

GOD FOR HELP

Ps. 121:1, 2, RSV

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From whence does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth."

Mountains have always been a symbol of strength and

stability. People who have fled to the mountains have often

found protection and safety. In ancient Israel the hills were

sites of idolatry. But there is One who is stronger than all the

mountains put together; He is the One who has placed them

there and can remove them at His will. The psalmist recog-

nized, as do all those in similar circumstances, that true help

comes only from the Lord.

What did Jesus say was stronger than mountains? Matt.

17:20.

"Throughout the history of God's people great mountains

of difficulty, apparently insurmountable, have loomed up before

those who were trying to carry out the purposes of Heaven.

Such obstacles are permitted by the Lord as a test of faith.

When we are hedged about on every side, this is the time above

all others to trust in God and in the power of His Spirit. The

exercise of a living faith means an increase of spiritual strength

and the development of an unfaltering trust. It is thus that the

soul becomes a conquering

power."—Prophets and Kings,

pages 594, 595.

What illustration does Isaiah use to contrast the mountains

and the power of God? Isa. 40:12.

When we look at the vastness of the sea or the solidness

of the mountains, we need to remember the One who created

them and remember that He is on our side. There is nothing

He cannot do for us. Though we may be helpless and weak, He

can supply all our lack.

Jesus went to a mountain to pray. Moses received the Ten

Commandments in a mountain. The wicked will call upon the

mountains to fall on them. In prophecy, mountains symbolize

powers. Thus mountains are more than objects of beauty; they

point us to God and remind us of lessons of Scripture.



THINK IT THROUGH



What other truths do mountains call to mind besides the

ones mentioned in this part of the lesson?

"Behind the lofty bulwarks of the mountains—in all ages

the refuge of the persecuted and oppressed—the Waldenses

found a hiding place. Here the light of truth was kept burning

amid the darkness of the Middle Ages. Here, for a thousand

years, witnesses for the truth maintained the ancient faith. . . .

To those faithful exiles the mountains were an emblem of the

immutable righteousness of Jehovah."—The

Great Controversy,

pages 65, 66.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 65-67.

Jesus' People Under Attack

LESSON 9



❑

Wednesday

August

Part 4

ENDURING

HARDNESS

2 Tim. 2:3

"Thou therefore endure hardness,

Christ."

The Christian life is compared to

is told that he must put on armor

6:11-17; 1 Tim. 6:12.

What is the nature of the fight in

gaged?

Eph.

6:12.

as a good soldier of Jesus

warfare, and the Christian

and go out to fight. Eph.

which the Christian is en-

The Christian is not out to destroy life, but to preserve it.

His conflict is with the forces of evil, and that is why the strug-

gle is constant and taxing. There is no letup in the controversy.

"Till the close of time there will be a conflict between the

church of God and those who are under the control of evil

angels."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

page 219. The tempter is

subtle, and only too often he succeeds in causing the unwary

to fall.

In view of

the

danger the Christian confronts, what did Jesus

say were two characteristics he should have? Matt. 10:16.

Wisdom will prevent us from doing things that may be per-

fectly right but are not expedient at the moment. The Christian's

objective is always to save, and therefore he will modify his

action in order not to create prejudice, or cause someone to

stumble. Not all things that are lawful are always expedient.

1 Cor. 6:12.

Harmlessness is another characteristic of the Christian.

Sometimes he feels righteous indignation rising in his blood,

and he would like to call down fire and brimstone on the enemy.

But this is not the spirit of Christ. The Christian warfare is

against sin, not sinners; against the author of sin, and not those

who have been deceived by him. Sometimes the Christian has

quite a struggle with himself!



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it that Satan seems to succeed in deceiving many?

"The tempter often works most successfully through those

who are least suspected of being under his control. The pos-

sessors of talent and education are admired and honored. . . .

The opinion prevails with many that all which appears like

courtesy or refinement must, in some sense, pertain to Christ.

Never was there a greater mistake. These qualities should

grace the character of every Christian, for they would exert

a powerful influence in favor of true religion; but they must

be consecrated to God, or they also are a power for evil. Many

a man of cultured intellect and pleasant manners, who would

not stoop to what is commonly regarded as an immoral act, is

but a polished instrument in the hands of Satan."—The

Great

Controversy,

page 509.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 76-78.

Jesus' People Under Attack

LESSON 9



❑

Thursday

August 30



Part 5



"And except those days should be shortened, there should

A TIME CUT SHORT

no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be

shortened."

Matt. 24:22

God, in His mercy, knows how much the frail human nature

can endure, and He acts accordingly. Paul writes to the Co-

rinthians: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not com-

mon to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted

beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide

the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Cor.

10:13, RSV.

John foresaw the church, pictured as a woman, flee into

the wilderness for a period of "a thousand two hundred and

threescore days." Rev. 12:6. This period of time is mentioned

seven times in the books of Daniel and the Revelation, and

applies to the period of papal supremacy from A.D. 538 to A.D.

1798. See

SDA Bible Commentary,

on Rev. 12:6. During this

time the church was to be "nourished" (Rev. 12:14), which in-

dicates that God looks after His own even though they may

be driven into exile or suffer persecution. God permits His

people to be tried, but He will not permit all His people to be

destroyed or the light of truth to be extinguished. The annals

of history reveal how a dominant church linked up civil and

religious power in the Middle Ages and rose to authority never

witnessed before. Daniel had seen the rise of this power and

described it in Dan. 7:8, 21, 24, 25. It was a power that would

make outstanding claims for itself and would persecute the

saints and almost destroy them.

What characteristics of this dominant church indicate that

its teaching and practice are not in harmony with the Word of

God? Dan. 7:25.

The period of domination was cut short by the Protestant

Reformation.



THINK IT THROUGH



Why is it that we do not have as much information about

the Waldenses and other members of the church in the wilder-

ness as we would like?

"The history of God's people during the ages of darkness

that followed upon Rome's supremacy is written in heaven, but

they have little place in human records. Few traces of their

existence can be found, except in the accusations of their per-

secutors. It was the policy of Rome to obliterate every trace of

dissent from her doctrines or decrees. Everything heretical,

whether persons or writings, she sought to destroy. Expressions

of doubt, or questions as to the authority of papal dogmas,

were enough to forfeit the life of rich or poor, high or low."

—The Great Controversy,

page 61.

FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 61-64.

Jesus' People Under Attack

LESSON 9



❑

Friday

August 31



Part 6



"And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened

HELP IS SENT

her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast

out of his mouth."

Rev. 12:16

How did the dragon try to destroy the woman who had been

enabled to flee into the wilderness? Rev. 12:15.

Water is

necessary for life, but in quantity it can be a de-

structive element. Water in prophecy refers to people. Rev.

17:15. The dragon seeks to destroy the true church by flooding

it with people so that the identity of the church may be lost.

It is not the size of the church or the number of its adherents

that determines the character of the church; it is the number

who reflect the character of Christ.

What agent helped the woman so that she was not carried

away by the flood? Rev. 12:16.

The

SDA Bible Commentary

suggests two interpretations of

the word "earth." See under Rev. 12:16. One has to do with

the North American continent which was sparsely populated at

the time of the Reformation; and the other refers to the Prot-

estant Reformation itself. The main point is not

how

the woman

was helped, but that she

was

helped. The dragon is angry with

anything that represents God and His government. He wants

to destroy every vestige of it, but his plans are foiled at every

twist and turn. Even before he begins to fight, he is a defeated

foe. Therefore God's people have no need to fear. Satan may

"wear out" saints; he may "prevail" against them; but he can

never destroy them, for they are in God's hands.



THINK IT THROUGH



How does one differentiate the true church from the false?

"Every manifestation of God's power for His people arouses

the enmity of Satan. Every time God works in their behalf,

Satan with his angels works with renewed vigor to compass

their ruin. He is jealous of all who make Christ their strength.

His object is to instigate evil, and when he has succeeded,

throw all the blame upon the tempted ones. He points to their

filthy garments, their defective characters. He presents their

weakness and folly, their sins of ingratitude, their unlikeness

to Christ, which have dishonored their Redeemer. All this he

urges as an argument proving his right to work his will in their

destruction. He endeavors to affright their souls with the thought

that their case is hopeless, that the stain of their defilement

can never be washed away. He hopes so to destroy their faith

that they will yield fully to his temptations, and turn from their

allegiance to

God."—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 168.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 633, 634.

AN OBEDIENT

PEOPLE

LESSON 10

September

2-8

"If it be so, our God whom we serve

is able to deliver us from the burning

fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out

of thine hand, 0 king. But if not, be it

known unto thee, 0 king, that we will

not serve thy gods, nor worship the

golden image which thou host set up."

Dan. 3:17, 18.

In last week's lesson we studied the

experience of the church presented

symbolically in Bible prophecy as the

woman in the wilderness. Oppression

will come to God's people again when

earthly governments will use coercive

measures to secure obedience to hu-

man laws which are contrary to God's

law. Believers from many lands and in

many years have faced similar threats.

The ways ,in which some of these be-

lievers haye related to the conflicting

requirements of men and God can be

instructive to believers today who are

preparing for Christ's return and the

events preceding it.

A Biblical event that has much in

common with events yet to take place

under the image to the beast is the

experience of the three Hebrews in the

fiery furnace. This is not merely an ex-

citing story for little children; but it

teaches principles that are relevant to

the most critical moment in the history

of God's people. This, then, is the pur-

pose of studying during this week the

familiar story of the fiery furnace.

Ellen G. White has compared the two

events to be studied this week in the

following paragraph:

"By many, the Sabbath of the fourth

commandment is made void, being

treated as a thing of naught; while the

spurious sabbath, the child of the pa-

pacy, is exalted. In the place of God's

laws, are elevated the laws of the man

of sin,—laws that are to be received

and regarded as the wonderful golden

image of Nebuchadnezzar was by the

Babylonians. Forming this great image,

Nebuchadnezzar commanded that it

should receive universal homage from

all, both great and small, high and low,

rich and poor."—Ellen G. White Com-

ments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

Vol. 4,

p. 1169.

An Obedient People

LESSON 10



❑

Sunday

September 2

Part 1

THE IMAGE

Dan. 3:1

"Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose

height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six

cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of

Babylon."

What was the difference between this image and the one

which God showed Nebuchadnezzar in a dream? Dan. 2:38-44.

"The words, 'Thou art this head of gold,' had made a deep

impression upon the ruler's mind. . . . The wise men of his

realm, taking advantage of this and of his return to idolatry,

proposed that he make an image similar to the one seen in his

dream, and set it up where all might behold the head of gold,

which had been interpreted as representing his kingdom.

"Pleased with the flattering suggestion, he determined to

carry it out, and to go even farther. Instead of reproducing the

image as he had seen it, he would excel the original. His image

should not deteriorate in value from the head to the feet, but

should be entirely of gold—symbolic throughout of Babylon as

an eternal, indestructible, all-powerful kingdom, which should

break in pieces all other kingdoms and stand forever."—Proph-

ets

and Kings,

page 504.

The image of Daniel 2 pointed to the overthrow of earthly

kingdoms at the coming of Jesus and their replacement by the

kingdom of God. Nebuchadnezzar's image was intended to

portray Babylon, not merely as the greatest of earthly kingdoms,

but as the kingdom that would replace God's kingdom, as it

had been shown in the dream, and which would stand forever.

If Babylon replaced God's kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar's plan,

then the king of Babylon took the place of God. Certainly

Nebuchadnezzar realized that he could not remain king of

Babylon forever, but he and his successors would rule an

everlasting kingdom and they would correspond to the God of

Daniel.

Nebuchadnezzar's plan to erect a golden image represent-

ing Babylon was not an original idea, but a perversion of re-

vealed truth. The idea originated with the God-given dream, but

"Daniel's interpretation was to be rejected and forgotten; truth

was to be misinterpreted and misapplied."—Prophets

and

Kings,

page 505.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can we be certain we are not misinterpreting truth?

"In rejecting the truth, men reject its Author. In trampling

upon the law of God, they deny the authority of the Lawgiver.

It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as

to fashion an idol of wood or stone. . . .

"No error accepted by the Christian world strikes more

boldly against the authority of Heaven, none is more directly

opposed to the dictates of reason, none is more pernicious in

its results, than the modern doctrine, so rapidly gaining ground,

that God's law is no longer binding upon men."—The

Great

Controversy,

pages 583, 584.



FURTHER STUDY



Prophets and Kings,

pages 503-505.

An Obedient People

LESSON 10



❑

Monday

September



Part 2



What does it appear to you that Nebuchadnezzar was trying

WORSHIP OF

to achieve by the dedication ceremony?

THE IMAGE



Dan. 3:2-5



"To bow down when in prayer to God is the proper attitude

to occupy. This act of worship was required of the three Hebrew

captives in Babylon. . . . But such an act was homage to be

rendered to God alone—the Sovereign of the world, the Ruler

of the universe; and these three Hebrews refused to give such

honor to any idol even though composed of pure gold. In doing

so, they would, to all intents and purposes, be bowing to the

king of Babylon."—Selected

Messages,

Bk. 2, p. 312.

The apparent center of the story is the image, but it is really

Nebuchadnezzar himself. He had the image made and erected;

he called together the audience of officials; it was his herald

that declared the procedure for the dedication; and it is re-

peatedly called "the golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar

had set up," as though that was its name.

An object of worship usually has meaning, but no meaning

is given to the image in the story. The only meaning seen is

in Nebuchadnezzar's command enforced by threat of death by

burning. Allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar or allegiance to Baby-

lon was the same thing. Where all the representatives of "peo-

ples, nations, and languages" bowed down at the king's com-

mand, it appeared that he had achieved unity of power and

allegiance throughout the empire. Each representative could

now carry to his home territory the report of the total, worldwide

allegiance to Babylon, demonstrated at Dura, thus further

solidifying Nebuchadnezzar's power.

To worship the image was to obey Nebuchadnezzar and

disobey God.



THINK IT THROUGH



In what ways are we in constant danger of giving to man

allegiance due to God only?

"This is the test that the people of God must have before

they are sealed. All who prove their loyalty to God by observing

His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank

under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive

the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly

origin and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark

of the beast....

"History will be repeated. False religion will be exalted. The

first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no

sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image at Babylon.

All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to

worship this spurious sabbath. This is Satan's plan to make

of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world

as a memorial of creation."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA

Bible Commentary,

Vol. 7, p. 976.

FURTHER STUDY



Prophets and Kings,

page 506.

An Obedient People

LESSON 10



❑

Tuesday

September 4

"And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the

same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of

the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick,

all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and

worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king

had set up."

Nebuchadnezzar provided music for the dedication. It was

used as a signal, but it must have had more significance than

merely designating the order of the ceremony. A single trum-

peter could have done that. The king provided a whole orches-

tra. The moment was as attractive as man could make it—an

image made of the most beautiful metal, an orchestra provid-

ing enchanting music, and the elite of society composing the

audience. But these circumstances were not sufficient to assure

Nebuchadnezzar of the total success of his plan. Beyond the

aesthetic and social appeal of the occasion there was the

threat of death by burning for noncompliance.

The word "therefore" which begins verse 7 indicates that

it was fear of the consequences of refusal that brought the

representatives of the world to their knees on the plain of Dura.

This threat was the ultimate fruit of Nebuchadnezzar's choice

to exalt himself. It was the same attitude toward life as resulted

in Satan's fall.

"He [Lucifer] sought for himself the highest place, and every

being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus

alienation, discord, and strife will be inevitable. Dominion be-

comes the prize of the strongest. The kingdom of Satan is a

kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an

obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone

on which he himself may climb to a higher place."—The

Desire

of Ages,

pages 435, 436.



THINK IT THROUGH



What practices and attitudes in my life tend to exalt myself?

"The decree enforcing the worship of this day [Sunday] is to

go forth to all the world. In a limited degree, it has already

gone forth. In several places the civil power is speaking with

the voice of a dragon, just as the heathen king spoke to the

Hebrew captives.

"Trial and persecution will come to all who, in obedience

to the Word of God, refuse to worship this false sabbath. Force

is the last resort of every false religion. At first it tries attrac-

tion, as the king of Babylon tried the power of music and out- ,

ward show. If these attractions, invented by men inspired by

Satan, failed to make men worship the image, the hungry

flames of the furnace were ready to consume them. So it will

be now. The papacy has exercised her power to compel men

to obey her, and she will continue to do so. We need the same

spirit that was manifested by God's servants in the conflict with

paganism."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commen-

tary,

Vol. 7, p. 976.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 758, 759.

Part 3

THE ENFORCEMENT

Dan. 3:6,1

An Obedient People

LESSON 10



❑

Wednesday

September 5



Part 4



Read Dan. 3:8-12.

THE ACCUSATION

What was the triple accusation brought against the three

Dan. 3:8-12 Hebrews? Verse 12.

The Chaldeans' lives were saved by Daniel's revelation of

the king's dream, and it was this group with whom Daniel and

his companions were closely identified. See Dan. 2:10-12, 18.

There is no way to know if the same persons were now involved

in the accusation against the three Hebrews, although this is

possible; but it is clear that the three Hebrews had been asso-

ciated with the Chaldeans, and circumstances made it virtually

impossible that the Chaldeans were not at least acquainted

with the three Hebrews. The accusation against the three came

from acquaintances and associates of the three Hebrews.

The Babylonian officials were quick to seize the opportunity

to discredit the three Jews who had been given positions of

responsibility, authority, and financial gain.

The words of verse 8 mean literally, "They ate the pieces

of the Jews." The verb usually means "to slander, to accuse

falsely and maliciously." The Chaldeans were not bringing

some idle complaint, but a malicious attack.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is the basic motivation behind accusations against a

person?

In connection with events of the last days, Ellen White has

written:

"Conscientious obedience to the word of God will be treated

as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise harsh-

ness and severity toward the believing child; the master or

mistress will oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Af-

fection will be alienated; children will be disinherited and

driven from home....

"As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed

faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified

through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join

the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and par-

taking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly

the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared

to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing

address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers

to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most .bitter

enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are

brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apos-

tates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent

and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir

up the rulers against them."—The

Great Controversy,

page 608.

FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 606, 607.

An Obedient People

LESSON 10



❑

Thursday

September 6

Read Dan. 3:13-18.

Seen from the viewpoint of his own principles, Nebuchad-

nezzar was quite magnanimous to offer a second chance to the

three Hebrews, but seen from the viewpoint of God's character

the only truly loving act Nebuchadnezzar could have performed

under the circumstances would be to permit the three Hebrews

to follow their consciences. The second chance was under the

same threat of death as the first.

"Careful.

The response of the defendants may be trans-

lated, 'We have no need to answer you in this matter' (RSV).

Some have interpreted this reply as highly arrogant, and have

pointed to martyrs reacting similarly toward their persecutors.

. . . Analogies from cognate and other languages show that

the sense is to 'make defense,' or 'apology.' Since the defend-

ants did not deny the truth of the indictment, they saw no need

to make a defense. Their case rested in the hands of their God

(see v. 17), and they made their answer in complete submission

to His will, whatever might be the outcome of their trial. That

they were not sure of coming through this experience alive can

be seen from their further statement (v. 18). Had they been sure

of deliverance, their reply could be interpreted as revealing

spiritual arrogance. As the case stood, their attitude showed

their firm conviction that their course of action was the only

feasible one, which needed no defense, or even further ex-

planation."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Dan. 3:16.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is the deciding factor in whether I should take a firm

stand in a situation, even risking life itself, or whether I should

be moderate and yielding? See "Testimonies to Ministers,"

pages 252, 253.

"The light is to be brought before kings and before the great

men of the earth, although they may receive it in the same

manner in which. Pharaoh received the testimony of the ser-

vants of the Lord, and asked, 'Who is the Lord, that I should

obey His voice?'

"Kings, governors, and great men will hear of you through

the reports of those who are at enmity with you, and your faith

and character will be misrepresented before them. But those

who are falsely accused will have an opportunity to appear in

the presence of their accusers to answer for themselves. They

will have the privilege of bringing the light before those who

are called the great men of the earth, and if you have studied

the Bible, if you are ready to give an answer to every man that

asketh you of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear,

your enemies will not be able to gainsay your

wisdom."—Evan-

gelism,

pages 560, 561.



FURTHER STUDY



Prophets and Kings,

pages 507, 508.

Part 5

TRIAL AND DEFENSE

Dan. 3:13.18

An Obedient People

LESSON 10



❑

Friday

September

Part 6

DELIVERENCE FROM

EXECUTION

Dan. 3:19-30

THINK IT THROUGH

Read Dan. 3:19-30.

The three Hebrews decided it was better to die than to dis-

obey God. To have decided it was better to live than to defy

the king would have made impossible the glorification of God

that took place before the assembled officials, many of whom

had come from distant points. The story they now could recount

to the citizens of their home territories was the story of deliver-

ance from the fire by the God of the Jews.

Notice the results of the miraculous deliverance: (1) Nebu-

chadnezzar's plans to institute a new recurring ceremony were

foiled; (2) the rule of Nebuchadnezzar was demonstrated to be

less than absolute; (3) the God of the Hebrews was shown to

be superior to the gods of Nebuchadnezzar; and (4) God was

shown to be on the side of conscience and free choice and

against compulsion.

What should be the believer's attitude when God does not

choose to deliver him?

"The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, per-

suade, or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of

divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments.

Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for

truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order

to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a

law enforcing Sunday observance. Liberty of conscience, which

has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. In

the soon-coming conflict we shall see exemplified the prophet's

words: 'The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to

make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the com-

mandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.'

Revelation 12:17."—The

Great Controversy,

page 592.

"Important are the lessons to be learned from the experience

of the Hebrew youth on the plain of Dura. In this our day, many

of God's servants, though innocent of wrongdoing, will be given

over to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of those who,

inspired by Satan, are filled with envy and religious bigotry.

Especially will the wrath of man be aroused against those who

hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment; and at last a

universal decree will denounce these as deserving of death.

"The season of distress before God's people will call for a

faith that will not falter. His children must make it manifest that

He is the only object of their worship, and that no considera-

tion, not even that of life itself, can induce them to make the

least concession to false worship. To the loyal heart the com-

mands of sinful, finite men will sink into- insignificance beside

the word of the eternal God. Truth will be obeyed though the

result be imprisonment or exile or

death."—Prophets and Kings,

pages 512, 513.

FURTHER STUDY



Prophets and Kings,

pages 509-513.

LESSON 11

September 9-15

THE WITNESS OF

JESUS' PEOPLE-I

"And I saw another angel fly in the

midst of heaven, having the everlasting

gospel to preach unto them that dwell

on the earth, and to every nation, and

kindred, and tongue, and people." Rev.

14:6.

In last week's lesson attention was

given to events that center in the work

of the lamblike beast of Revelation 13.

God has revealed to His people a mes-

sage that is relevant to these events. The

three angels' messages of Revelation

14 contain the information that relates

directly to the crisis situation that devel-

ops out of the erection of an image to

the beast.

On the other hand the messages con-

tain the information precisely pertinent

to God's relation to the world in the

final days of earth's civilization. These

messages are meant for the day when

the challenge of Satan to Jesus and His

people culminates. The issue will be:

Who should be worshiped?

Thus the purpose of the three angels'

messages recorded in Rev. 14:6-12 is

to provide content for the witness of

Jesus' people that is relevant to the

issues of their times.

"Prophecy represents Protestantism

as having lamblike horns, but speaking

like a dragon. Already we are beginning

to hear the voice of the dragon. There

is a satanic force propelling the Sunday

movement, but it is concealed.

"Let not the commandment-keeping

people of God be silent at this time, as

though we gracefully accepted the situa-

tion. There is the prospect before us of

waging a continuous war, at the risk of

imprisonment, of losing property and

even life itself, to defend the law of

God, which is being made void by the

laws of men. . .

"The time is at hand when Satan will

work miracles to confirm minds in the

belief that he is God. All the people of

God are now to stand on the platform

of truth as it has been given in the third

angel's message. All the pleasant pic-

tures, all the miracles wrought, will be

presented in order that, if possible, the

very elect will be deceived. The only

hope for anyone is to hold fast the evi-

dences that have confirmed the truth in

righteousness."—Ellen G. White Com-

ments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

Vol.

p. 975.

The Witness of Jesus' People—I

LESSON 11



❑

Sunday

September

The first angel's message (Rev. 14:6, 7) begins abruptly

after a passage dealing with the Lamb and 144,000 followers.

Since the context of these verses places their fulfillment after

the second coming of Jesus, the question arises as to when

the three angels' messages reach their fulfillment. To relate

these messages to their correct period is the purpose of today's

lesson.

Revelation 13 begins with a prophecy of the leopardlike

beast and the narration of his work closes in verse 10 with the

words "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." With

verse 11 there begins a prophecy of the lamblike beast, and the

narration of the prophecy that pertains to him closes with Rev.

14:12 where again are found the words "Here is the patience

of the saints." Thus the three angels' messages are in the

prophetic sequence dealing with the lamblike beast.

A closer look at Rev. 13:11-14:12 shows that verses 11-18

are about the beast—his work, followers, and mark. The next

passage, Rev. 14:1-5, is about the Lamb—His followers and

mark.

The prophecy of the beast deals only with the beast, and

the action opposing him does not enter at any point in Rev.

13:11-18. The recital of the Lamb's redemption of His followers

makes no mention of the beast. To complete the picture, there

should be seen God's action during the time of the lamblike

beast. This is the subject of Rev. 14:6-12, often referred to as

the three angels' messages. When are these messages to be

proclaimed? During the time of the lamblike beast.

The lamblike beast is pictured in prophecy as continuing

up to the second advent, and his origin is noted after the rule

of the leopardlike beast, which ended with the close of the 1260

years, or in 1798. So the lamblike beast, and thus the three

angels' messages, fit into the period from 1798 to the second

advent. Ellen G. White, in explaining the point of beginning for

the first angel's message wrote: "But since 1798 the book of

Daniel has been unsealed, knowledge of the prophecies has

increased, and many have proclaimed the solemn message

of the judgment near."—The

Great Controversy,

page 356.



THINK IT THROUGH



In what ways are the three angels' messages of importance

to me?

"The proclamation of the first, second, and third angels'

messages has been located by the Word of Inspiration. Not

a peg or pin is to be removed. No human authority has any

more right to change the location of these messages than to

substitute the New Testament for the Old. . . .

"The first and second messages were given in 1843 and

1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but

all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. . . .

These messages we are to give to the world in publications, in

discourses, showing in the line of prophetic history the things

that have been and the things that will

be."—Selected Mes-

sages,

Bk. 2, pp. 104, 105.



FURTHER STUDY



Early Writings,

pages 258, 259.

Part 1

TIME OF THE

MESSAGES

The Witness of Jesus' People—I

LESSON 11



❑

Monday

September 10

Part 2

GOOD NEWS AND

THE ANGELS

Rev. 14:6

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having

the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the

earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and peo-

ple."

What is the gospel or "good news" carried by the angel?

Some see in this passage a good news different from the gospel

of Jesus Christ. This, they say, is indicated by the fact that no

definite article appears with "gospel" in the Greek. It is rea-

sonable to assume that when the angel speaks he is declaring

the good news that has been entrusted to him. He shouts a

threefold command to fear, glorify, and worship God. The fear

and the glory because the judgment has arrived; the worship

because God is Creator. Is this the gospel of Jesus Christ?

In the preaching of Jesus "the thought of judgment is cen-

tral. Jesus' call to repentance is urgent because God's judg-

ment hangs over every man. The task of Jesus is continually

to impress on men the seriousness of this judgment and to

awaken fear of the

Judge."—Theological Dictionary of the New

Testament,

Vol. 3, p. 936.

Paul proclaimed to the people of Lystra that he brought to

them "good news, that you should turn from these vain things

to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the

sea and all that is in them." Acts 14:15, RSV. This turning to

God the Judge and God the Creator is a basic element of the

gospel of Jesus Christ.

The good news of the angel is described as eternal or ever-

lasting because it is good news of the eternal God, and the

proclaiming of this good news of the Eternal is precisely the

purpose of the life and work of Jesus Christ. It is proclaimed

worldwide because all earth dwellers will be judged.

Who did Jesus command to preach this message? Matt.

28:19, 20.

"Christ is coming the second time, with power unto salva-

tion. To prepare human beings for this event, He has sent the

first, second, and third angels' messages. These angels repre-

sent those who receive the truth, and with power open the

gospel to the world."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible

Commentary,

Vol. 7, pp. 978, 979.



THINK IT THROUGH



What meaning did Jesus give to the worldwide preaching of

the gospel? (See Matt. 24:14.) What significance does this give

to the message of the first angel?

"We are to be laborers together with the heavenly angels

in presenting Jesus to the world. With almost impatient eager-

ness the angels wait for our co-operation; for man must be the

channel to communicate with man. And when we give ourselves

to Christ in wholehearted devotion, angels rejoice that they

may speak through our voices to reveal God's love."—The

De-

sire of Ages,

page 297.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 822, 823.

The Witness of Jesus' People—I

LESSON 11



❑

Tuesday

September 11

Part 3

THE JUDGMENT

Rev. 14:1, first part

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him;

for the hour of his judgment is come."

The reason for the angel's proclamation of good news is the

arrival of the time of judgment. Judgment is not good news to

one who expects condemnation. The good news is that by

giving fear and glory to God one can be acquitted in the judg-

ment. The good news is that there is a way out.

If the call to fear and glorify God is still a possibility when

the angel proclaims it, then the judgment of God of which he

speaks cannot be an event that is immediately fully accom-

plished; and yet the passage states that "the hour of his judg-

ment

come." In some way the judgment and the possibility

of turning to God must be simultaneous for a time. There is

judgment, and there is opportunity to repent; but it is the last

time, and therefore the message is urgent. When do these

circumstances exist?

"The announcement, 'The hour of His judgment is come,'

points to the closing work of Christ's ministration for the sal-

vation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed

until the Saviour's intercession shall cease and He shall return

to the earth to take His people to Himself. The work of judgment

which began in 1844 must continue until the cases of all are

decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend

to the close of human probation. That men may be prepared to

stand in the judgment, the message commands them to 'fear

God, and give glory to Him,' and worship Him that made

heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.' "

—The Great Controversy,

pages 435, 436.

Refraining from sin in the light of the judgment is to be

accompanied by giving glory to God. "To give glory to God is

to reveal His character in our own, and thus make Him known.

And in whatever way we make known the Father or the Son, we

glorify God."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Commen-

tary,

Vol. 7, p. 979. Thus, giving glory to God is the other side

of the coin from fear. It is the combination of giving up sin and

living Godlike lives that prepares men for the judgment. This

is the work of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To fear and to glorify

God is to be righteous by faith.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is my personal standing in relation to the judgment?

"We are rapidly approaching the end of this earth's history;

and as we realize that Jesus is indeed coming soon, we shall

be aroused to labor as never before. We are bidden to sound

an alarm to the people. And in our own lives we are to show

forth the power of truth and righteousness. The world is soon

to meet the great Lawgiver over His broken law. Those only

who turn from transgression to obedience can hope for pardon

and peace."—Selected

Messages,

Bk. 2, pp. 402. 403.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 483-486.

The Witness of Jesus' People—I

LESSON 11



❑

Wednesday

September 12

Part 4

THE CREATOR

Rev. 14:7, last part

What identification is given of the God that men are called

to worship?

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to

him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him

that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains

of waters."

Mention of the judgment of the Creator sets forth the end

and the beginning of the world. Men today live between these

two divine events, which provides a basis for them to know

how to relate to life. They are held accountable by God because

they have been made by God; and because God has made

them and will judge them, they are commanded to worship

Him.

The command to worship the Creator is especially pertinent

in the light of the coercive efforts, prophesied to take place

under the lamblike beast-power, to bring men to worship the

image of the beast. Thus in the time of this beast-power people

will be faced with a command to worship the Creator and also

a demand, under threat of death, enforcing the idolatrous wor-

ship of the beast's image. Since the warning against this form

of idol worship is given in the third message, it is clear that

the call to the true worship of God, as given in the first mes-

sage, precedes persecution for non-worship of the beast's

image.

"In Revelation 14, men are called upon to worship the Crea-

tor; and the prophecy brings to view a class that, as the result

of the threefold message, are keeping the commandments of

God. One of these commandments points directly to God as

the Creator. The fourth precept declares: 'The seventh day is

the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: . . . for in six days the Lord

made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and

rested the seventh day.'

"—The Great Controversy,

page 437.



THINK IT THROUGH



Of what significance is it to me that God is both Judge and

Creator? How should I relate to each of these positions of my

heavenly Father?

"Since the Reformation, there have been some in every gen-

eration to maintain its [Sabbath] observance. Though often in

the midst of reproach and persecution, a constant testimony

has been borne to the perpetuity of the law of God and the

sacred obligation of the creation Sabbath.

"These truths, as presented in Revelation 14 in connection

with 'the everlasting gospel,' will distinguish the church of

Christ at the time of His appearing. For as the result of the

threefold message it is announced: 'Here are they that keep

the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.' And this

message is the last to be given before the coming of the Lord.

Immediately following its proclamation the Son of man is seen

by the prophet, coming in glory to reap the harvest of the

earth."—The

Great Controversy,

pages 453, 454.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 433-436.

The Witness of Jesus' People—I

LESSON 11



❑

Thursday

September 13

Part 5



"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen,

BABYLON

is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of

the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

Rev. 14:8

The name Babel, from which Babylon developed, first ap-

pears as the name of a city and proposed tower, built to hold

men together and make a name for themselves. The city was

founded by Nimrod. Centuries later, when Babylon was, as an

empire, ruled by Nebuchadnezzar, the nation of Judah was

three times invaded, and the populace taken captive. Thus,

historically Babylon was in opposition to God and His people;

and when Rome came into opposition against both Christians

and Jews, the name Babylon became a derogatory nickname

for Rome. In the book of Revelation the meaning is expanded

and is used as a symbol "of all apostate religious organizations

and their leadership, from antiquity down to the close of

time."

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Rev. 14:8.

"In Babylonian the name

Bab-ilu

(Babel, or Babylon) meant

'gate of the gods,' but the Hebrews derogatorily associated it

with

balal,

a word in their language meaning 'to confuse' (see

on Gen. 11:9). The rulers of Babylon doubtless called their city

the 'gate' of the gods in the sense that they chose to think of

it as the place where the gods consorted with men, to order

the affairs of earth (see on Judges 9:35; Ruth 4:1; 1 Kings

22:10; Jer. 22:3). The name thus seems to have reflected the

claim of the Babylonian kings that they had been commissioned

to rule the world by divine mandate."—SDA

Bible Commentary,

on Rev. 14:8.

But why should the figure of Babylon be introduced here

in a prophecy that pertains to the lamblike beast? The beast

is part of a larger whole, as is indicated by the fact that he

orders others to make an image to the leopardlike beast. But

he has not only accomplices but also predecessors, since it

is from the leopard beast that he is said to get his power. This

larger whole, accomplices and predecessors, is called Baby-

lon; but the power center of Babylon's last-day manifestation

is the lamblike beast.

"It is, however, possible that this meaning [gate of the gods]

was secondary, and that the name was originally from the

Babylonian verb

babalu,

meaning 'to scatter,' or 'to disappear.'

Perhaps the Babylonians were not particularly proud of a name

that reminded them of the inglorious climax of earlier plans for

the city, and so invented an explanation that made it appear

to be a compound of the names

bab,

`port,' and

ilu,

`god.' "

—SDA Bible Commentary,

on Gen. 11:9.

Thus the symbolic name Babylon combines the connotations

of a religious power, a confusion of humanity, and an unstable,

non-permanent situation.



THINK IT THROUGH



Have I retained any ties with Babylon?



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 381, 382.

The Witness of Jesus' People—I

LESSON 11



❑

Friday

September 14

Part 6

BABYLON'S FALL

Rev. 14:8

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen,

is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink

of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

The text states that Babylon

fallen, which raises the ques-

tion if this prophecy is not still wholly for the future. While it

cannot be said that this prophecy is fulfilled until Babylon is

fully fallen, nevertheless the first evidences of fall are pertinent

to the complete fall.

"The second angel's message of Revelation 14 was first

preached in the summer of 1844, and it then had a more direct

application to the churches of the United States, where 'the

warning of the judgment had been most widely proclaimed and

most generally rejected, and where the declension in the

churches had been most rapid. But the message of the second

angel did not reach its complete fulfillment in 1844. The

churches then experienced a moral fall, in consequence of

their refusal of the light of the advent message; but that fall

was not complete. As they have continued to reject the special

truths for this time they have fallen lower and lower. Not yet,

however, can it be said that 'Babylon is fallen, . . . because

she made

all nations

drink of the wine of the wrath of her

fornication.' She has not yet made all nations do this. The

spirit of world conforming and indifference to the testing truths

for our time exists and has been gaining ground in churches

of the Protestant faith in all the countries of Christendom; and

these churches are included in the solemn and terrible denun-

ciation of the second angel. But the work of apostasy has not

yet reached its culmination.

"The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord,

Satan will work 'with

all

power and signs and lying wonders,

and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness;' and they that

'received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,'

will be left to receive 'strong delusion, that they should believe

a lie.' 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11. Not until this condition shall be

reached, and the union of the church with the world shall be

fully accomplished throughout Christendom, ,will the fall of

Babylon be complete. The change is a progressive one, and

the perfect fulfillment of Revelation 14:8 is yet future."—The

Great Controversy,

pages 389, 390.

THINK IT THROUGH



Is it possible that the fall of Babylon induces a correspond-

ing decline in adherence to godly principles among God's peo-

ple?

"The sins of the popular churches are whitewashed over.

Many of the members indulge in the grossest vices and are

steeped in iniquity. Babylon is fallen and has become the cage

of every foul and hateful bird! The most revolting sins of the

age find shelter beneath the cloak of Christianity. Many pro-

claim the law of God abolished, and surely their lives are in

keeping with their

faith."—Testimonies,

Vol.

p. 13.

The Great Controversy,

pages 378, 379.

FURTHER STUDY

LESSON 12

September 16-22

"Here is the patience of the saints:

here are they that keep the command-

ments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

Rev. 14:12.

This week's lesson begins with the

last part Of the second angel's message

and continues through the third. It is

well to recall here that these messages

are really prophecies of the witness that

is to be borne by God's people in the

last days. The lessons during the week

do not reiterate this thought, but it will

be helpful to keep in mind that this is

in reality, as indicated in the title, the

witness of Jesus' people.

There are, in verses 8-12, an an-

nouncement about Babylon and her

wine, a warning about worship of the

beast and drinking the wine of God's

wrath, and a call to endure by obedience

to God and faith in Jesus. The final

verse (12) marks the whole prophetic

sequence as the message of righteous-

ness by faith. On the other hand, it will

be by obedience to, and faith in, earthly

powers that men will be lost. The root,

personal question here is this: Is my life

and being oriented toward men, the

world, and things, or is it oriented wholly

toward God, heaven, and the Word?

Are my belief, trust, and action founded

on men, or on God?

"The exceeding great and precious

promises given us in the Holy Scrip-

tures have been lost sight of to a great

extent, just as the enemy of all righ-

teousness designed that they should be.

He has cast his own dark shadow be-

tween us and our God, that we may not

see the true character of God. The Lord

has proclaimed Himself to be 'merciful

and gracious, long-suffering, and abun-

dant in goodness and truth.'

"Several have written to me, inquir-

ing if the message of justification by

faith is the third angel's message, and

I have answered, 'It is the third angel's

message in verity.'

"—Selected Mes-

sages,

Bk. 1, p.. 372.

The article by Ellen G. White

which follows this lesson was

printed in the

Review and Herald,

April 14, 1896. "Character of the

Last Conflict" is to be read as

supplementary material for this

week.



The Witness of



Jesus' People—II

LESSON 12



❑

Sunday

September 16



Part 1



What is the symbol representing the relation between Baby-

THE WINE

Ion and the nations?

Rev. 14:8

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen,

is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of

the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

Babylon is pictured here as causing nations to drink wine.

When Jeremiah in Jer. 51:7, 8 wrote of the fall of Babylon, he

referred to the nations as being "mad" (RSV) because they

drank of Babylon's wine. The action of ancient Babylon was mil-

itary conquest. To drink of her wine was to experience conquest

by Babylon's armies. But mystic Babylon's action is stated to be

fornication, not conquest by armies. To drink the wine of her

"passionate unchastity" then is to experience conquest by a

harlot instead of an army. But what is the meaning of the for-

nication to which the nations have submitted? In the Old Tes-

tament Israel is represented as guilty of harlotry because she

forsook the true God and worshiped false gods, and also be-

cause she entered into alliance with the great nations of earth

instead of trusting God to protect her. Thus symbolically har-

lotry has represented, in the Bible, both idolatry and worldly

alliances. The context of Rev. 14:8 points to both meanings

combined. That it involves idolatry is indicated by the image

of the beast; that it is alliances is pointed to by "all nations"

participating with her in fornication.

"The third angel's message has been sent forth to the world,

warning men against receiving the mark of the beast or of his

image in their foreheads or in their, hands. To receive this mark

means to come to the same decision as the beast has done,

and to advocate the same ideas, in direct opposition to the

Word of God."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA Bible Com-

mentary,

Vol. 7, p. 979.



THINK IT THROUGH



What is the status of my fidelity to God?

"The great sin charged against Babylon is that she 'made

all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'

This cup of intoxication which she presents to the world repre-

sents the false doctrines that she has accepted as the result

of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the earth.

Friendship with the world corrupts her faith, and in her turn

she exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching

doctrines which are opposed to the plainest statements of

Holy Writ."—The

Great Controversy,

page 388.



FURTHER STUDY



The

Great Controversy,

pages 536, 537.

The Witness of Jesus' People—II

LESSON 12



❑

Monday

September 17

Part 2

THE BEAST

Rev. 14:9

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud

voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and re-

ceive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand."

The central point of the warning in this third message is the

beast and its image. What beast? A beast that is worshiped.

According to Rev. 13:12 it is the leopardlike beast toward

which worship will be directed. This is the beast that was to

rule for 1260 years and then be wounded and later healed. What

is the image of the beast? A replica of the beast-power so

lifelike that it speaks. Rev. 13:15.

"In chapter 13 (verses 1-10) is described another beast,

'like unto a leopard,' to which the dragon gave 'his power, and

his seat, and great authority.' This symbol, as most Protestants

have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the

power and seat and authority once held by the ancient Roman

Empire."—The

Great Controversy,

page 439.

"When the leading churches of the United States, uniting

upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common,

shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sus-

tain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed

an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil

penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result. . . .

"'The beast' mentioned in this message, whose worship is

enforced by the two-horned beast, is the first, or leopardlike

beast of Revelation 13—the papacy. The 'image to the beast'

represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be

developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of

the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas."—The

Great Controversy,

page 445.

Contrast the animal symbol used in Revelation to represent

Jesus, and those used to represent earthly powers. Rev. 5:6,

9; 14:1; 12:3; 13:2, 11. What is the significance of this con-

trast?



THINK IT THROUGH



If my character were to be represented symbolically by an

animal, what would it be? Could my life be accurately sym-

bolized by a Iamb? Or is it more like a leopard?

"To Daniel was given a vision of fierce beasts, representing

the powers of the earth. But the ensign of the Messiah's king-

dom is a lamb. While earthly kingdoms rule by the ascendancy

of physical power, Christ is to banish every carnal weapon,

every instrument of coercion. His kingdom was to be estab-

lished to uplift and ennoble fallen humanity."—Ellen G. White

Comments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

Vol. 4, p. 1171.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 443-446.

The Witness of Jesus' People—II

LESSON 12



❑

Tuesday

September 18

Part 3

THE WORSHIP

Rev. 14:9

The warning here is against worship of the beast and his

image. This is in contrast to the call to worship God in the

first angel's message. The Greek word translated worship in

this verse designates the act of prostrating oneself before, or

reverencing, another who is regarded as belonging to the realm

of the supernatural. The beast and his image will acquire a

reputation as supernatural powers because of the miracles

that lead to the image's development. The beast and his image

will be designated as worthy of worship by the miracle-working

lamblike beast. Rev. 13:12-15. The worship that men are warned

against is a worship substantiated by miracles and enforced

under penalty of death for noncompliance.

In the first angel's message, what is the substantiation given

for worship of the true God? Rev. 14:7.

What is the means by which people can know whom to

worship? John 4:24; 17:17.

On what basis did Jesus refuse to worship Satan? Matt.

4:9, 10.

"Satan is busily laying his plans for the last mighty conflict,

when all will take sides. After the gospel has been proclaimed

in the world for nearly two thousand years, Satan still presents

to men and women the same scene that he presented to Christ.

In a wonderful manner he causes the kingdoms of the world

in their glory to pass before them. These he promises to all

who will fall down and worship him. Thus he seeks to bring

men under his dominion.

"Satan is working to the utmost to make himself as God

and to destroy all who oppose his power. And today the world

is bowing before him. His power is received as the power of

God....

"In his visions of things to come the prophet John beheld

this scene. This demon worship was revealed to him, and it

seemed to him as if the whole world were standing on the

brink of perdition. But as he looked with intense interest he

beheld the company of God's commandment-keeping people."

—Testimonies,

Vol. 6, pp. 14, 15.



THINK IT THROUGH



What does a miracle mean? Have I based my worship

wholly on the Word?

"It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to

learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in

the light and encourage others to follow his example. We

should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every

thought and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine

help we are to form our opinions for ourselves as we are to

answer for ourselves before God."—The

Great Controversy,

page 598.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 593-595.

The Witness of Jesus' People—II

LESSON 12



❑

Wednesday

September 19

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,

If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his

mark in his forehead, or in his hand."

The worship of the beast and reception of his mark are

mentioned together. The precise relationship between worship

and mark is not stated. It can be inferred that they are related,

because they are mentioned together; and that worship and

mark are mutual characteristics, because they are connected

and,

not

or.

Man

gives

worship, but he

receives

the mark.

The penalty for nonworship is death; for having no mark,

economic boycott. In the eight references in which the mark

is mentioned it is always in association with worship. It never

stands alone. It is also clear that worship is regarded as more

significant than the mark because nonworship carries the

death penalty, but lack of the mark carries economic boycott.

This would indicate that the object sought is the worship

of the beast, and the mark would then be the means to accom-

plish beast-worship and the evidence of such worship. Rev.

13:16 indicates that it is the evidence factor that is of primary

importance. This is so in the very nature of law enforcement.

Worship is very personal and subjective. The being wor-

shiped privately and revered in one's inmost soul may be

known to no other person. The situation described here is

where worship becomes a public matter that can be deter-

mined objectively and enforced by law. This can be accom-

plished only by prescribing a public manner of worship. It

would have to relate to a particular kind of action, or worship

in a prescribed location, or worship at a specified time. The

prophecy does not say whether the mark is action, place, or

time.

The Biblical prescription for worship is by time in memory

of Creation, which is pointed to in Rev. 14:7.

"When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the

mark of the beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday. Those who,

after having heard the truth, continue to regard this day as

holy bear the signature of the man of sin, who thought to

change times and laws."—Ellen G. White Comments,

SDA

Bible Commentary,

Vol. 7, p. 980.



THINK IT THROUGH



How can I be assured of sufficient courage to face the

majority, the law, boycott, and death in the time of test?

"They are hedged in with difficulties. Satan assails them

with fierce temptations. The work which they have undertaken

seems far beyond their ability to accomplish. They are threat-

ened with destruction. The enthusiasm which animated them

is gone; yet they cannot turn back. Then, feeling their utter

helplessness, they flee to the Mighty One for strength. They

remember that the words which they have spoken were not

theirs, but His who bade them give the warning. God put the

truth into their hearts, and they could not forbear to proclaim

it."—The

Great Controversy,

page 609.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 603-608.

Part 4

THE MARK

Rev. 14:9

The Witness of Jesus' People—II

LESSON 12



❑

Thursday

September

Part 5

THE WRATH OF GOD

Rev. 14:10, 11

"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,

which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indig-

nation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in

the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the

Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever

and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the

beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his

name."

Those who drink of Babylon's wine (Rev. 14:8) will drink also

of the "wine of God's wrath." Verse 10. In Psalm 75:7, 8 wine

symbolizes God's judgment. Wrath and judgment belong to-

gether. Men have rejected God, and God cannot maintain His

relationship with them without their consent.

"This message embraces the two preceding messages. It is

represented as being given with a loud voice; that is, with the

power of the Holy Spirit. Everything is now at stake. The third

angel's message is to be regarded as of the highest impor-

tance. It is a life and death question. The impression made by

this message will be proportionate to the earnestness and

solemnity with which it is proclaimed."—Ellen G. White Com-

ments,

SDA Bible Commentary,

Vol. 7, p. 980.

For what did Jesus pray in Gethsemane? Matt. 26:39.

"He knew that His hour was come; He Himself was the true

paschal lamb, and on the day the Passover was eaten He was

to be sacrificed. He was about to drink the cup of wrath; He

must soon receive the final baptism of suffering."—The

Desire

of Ages,

page 642.

Jesus experienced God's wrath, and no other human being

need suffer this experience, for Jesus made escape from God's

wrath possible. "At first the angels could not rejoice; for their

Commander concealed nothing from them, but opened before

them the plan of salvation. Jesus told them that He would

stand between the wrath of His Father and guilty man, that He

would bear iniquity and scorn, and but few would receive Him

as the Son of

God."—Early Writings,

pages 149, 150.

The mention of God's wrath in the Bible is really the nega-

tive approach to righteousness by faith, just as the verbally

negative command against killing really expresses a principle

that is positive—help the fellowman live.



THINK IT THROUGH



Am I prepared to receive God's mercy—or God's wrath?

"Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the ini-

quity of us all. He was counted a transgressor, that He might

redeem us from the condemnation of the law. The guilt of

every descendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart. The

wrath of God against sin, the terrible manifestation of His dis-

pleasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son with

consternation."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 753.



FURTHER STUDY



The Desire of Ages,

pages 752, 753.

The Witness of Jesus' People-11

LESSON 12



❑

Friday

September 21

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep

the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

The Greek word translated "patience" in the KJV has a

fuller meaning than the English word "patience." Its meaning

is a combination of waiting and endurance.

"[It] 'is an endurance which is grounded in waiting, a wait-

ing which expresses itself in endurance.' Waiting for Jesus . . .

is on the one side the attitude which fills the whole soul of

believers. On the other side salvation depends on their stead-

fastness to the end. . . . The final clash between the power of

the world and the community will also be the final and supreme

test of faith. It will demand of believers supreme steadfastness

if everything is not finally to be in vain."—Theological

Diction-

ary of the New Testament,

Vol. 4, p. 588.

In what way are the characteristics of the saints (command-

ment keeping and faith of Jesus) related to the context of the

three messages? Rev. 14:6-12.

"The result of an acceptance of these messages is given in

the word: 'Here are they that keep the commandments of God,

and the faith of Jesus.' In order to be prepared for the judg-

ment, it is necessary that men should keep the law of God.

That law will be the standard of character in the judgment."

—The Great Controversy,

page 436.

"In the issue of the contest all Christendom will be divided

into two great classes—those who keep the commandments

of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast

and his image and receive his mark. Although church and state

will unite their power to compel 'all, both small and great, rich

and poor, free and bond' (Revelation 13:16), to receive 'the

mark of the beast,' yet the people of God will not receive it.

The prophet of Patmos beholds 'them that had gotten the vic-

tory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and

over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having

the harps of God' and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb.

Revelation 15:2, 3."—The

Great Controversy,

page 450.



THINK IT THROUGH



How does my experience compare with the commandment

keeping and faith in Jesus that identifies the true saints?

"The third angel is flying in the midst of heaven, heralding

the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This repre-

sents the work which is to be done in these last days. The

message loses none of its power in its onward flight. John

sees the work increasing in power till the whole earth is

filled with the glory of God. The message, 'Fear God and keep

his commandments; for the hour of his judgment is come,' is

to go with a loud voice. With intensified zeal and energy human

beings are to carry forward the work of the Lord. In the home,

in the school, and in the church men, women, and youth are

to be prepared to give the message to the world."—Sons

and

Daughters of God,

page 207.



FURTHER STUDY



Testimonies,

Vol. 8, pp. 41, 42.

Part 6

THE SAINTS

Rev. 14:12

Character of the Last Conflict

ELLEN G. WHITE

The great controversy between the

Prince of light and the prince of dark-

ness has not abated one jot or tittle of

its influence as time has gone on. The

stern conflict between light and dark-

ness, between truth and error, is deep-

ening in its intensity. The synagogue of

Satan is intensely active, and in this

age the deceiving power of the enemy

is working in the most subtle way. Ev-

ery human mind that is not surrendered

to God and is not under the control of

the Spirit of God, will be perverted

through satanic agencies. The enemy

is working continually to supplant Jesus

Christ in the human heart, and to place

his attributes in the human character,

in the place of the attributes of God. He

brings his strong delusions to bear upon

the human mind, that he may have a

controlling power. He seeks to obliterate

the truth and abolish the true pattern

of goodness and righteousness, in order

that the professed Christian world may

be swept to perdition through separa-

tion from God. He is working in order

that selfishness may become world-wide,

and thus make of no effect the mission

and work of Christ.

Christ came to the world to bring

back the character of God to man, and

to retrace on the human soul the divine

image. Through his entire life, Christ

sought by continuous, laborious efforts

to call the world's attention to God and

to his holy requirements, so that men

might be imbued with the Spirit of God,

might be actuated by love, and might

reveal in life and character the divine

attributes. Christ came to be the light

and life of the world, and his life was

one of continual self-denial and self-

sacrifice. The Lord Jesus valued every

human being, and could not endure the

thought that one soul should perish. His

great heart of love embraced the whole

world, and led him to provide complete

salvation for all who would believe in

him. In the character of Christ, majesty

and humility were blended. Temperance

and self-denial were seen in every act

of his life, but there was no taint of

bigotry, no cold austerity, manifested

in his manner to lessen his influence

over those with whom he came in

contact. The world's Redeemer had a

greater than angelic nature; yet united

with his divine majesty were meekness

and humanity that attracted all to him-

self. He speaks to all, saying, "Come

unto me, all ye that labor and are

heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of

me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

Christ is man's example. "In him was

life; and the life was the light of men.

. . . That was the true Light, which

lighteth every man that cometh into the

world. . . . And the Word was made

flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we

beheld his glory, the glory as of the

only begotten of the Father,) full of

grace and truth." Christ, our Redeemer,

comprehended all the necessities of

man. He formulated the mighty plans by

which fallen man is to

uplifted from

the degradation of sin. In every circum-

stance, however trivial,

represented

the Father. Though upholding the world

by the word of his power, he would

stoop to relieve a wounded bird. 0 that

we all had an intelligent knowledge of

Jesus Christ! Weary and worn as he

often was, he pleased not himself. "And

this is life eternal, that they might know

thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,

whom thou hast sent." "See that ye

refuse not him that speaketh." Who are

those that refuse to hear the voice of

Christ!—They are those who do not

hear and practise his word. They are

those whose hearts are crowded and

overcharged with surfeiting and drunk-

enness and the cares of this life; who

are eating and drinking, planting and

building, marrying and giving in mar-

riage. They are those who will not re-

ceive the message of warning for these

last days.

The agencies of Satan are at work to

keep the minds of men engrossed with

the things of this life, in order that he

may work counter to the mission and

work of Christ. Of Satan, Christ declares

he "abode not in the truth." Once Satan

was in co-partnership with God, Jesus

Christ, and the holy angels. He was

highly exalted in heaven, and was ra-

diant in light and glory that came to him

from the Father and the Son; but he

became disloyal, and lost his high and

and holy position as covering cherub.

He became the antagonist of God, an

apostate, and was excluded from

heaven. He established his empire, and

planted the standard of rebellion against

the law of Jehovah. He invited all the

powers of evil to rally about his stan-

dard, in order to form a desperate com-

panionship of evil to league against the

God of heaven. He worked perseveringly

and determinedly to perpetuate his re-

bellion, and to cause men to turn from

Bible truth, and to stand under his

banner. As soon as the Lord through

Jesus Christ created our world, and

placed Adam and Eve in the garden of

Eden, Satan announced his purpose to

conform to his own nature the father

and mother of all humanity, and to unite

them with his own ranks of rebellion.

He was determined to efface the image

of God from the human posterity, and to

trace his own image upon the soul in

place of the divine image. He adopted

methods of deception by which to ac-

complish his purpose. He is called the

father of lies, an accuser of God and of

those who maintain their allegiance to

God, a murderer from the beginning. He

put forth every power at his command

to win man to co-operate with him in

apostasy, and succeeded in bringing

rebellion into our world.

All the vast, complicated machinery

of evil agencies is put into action in

these last days. Through generation

after generation, from age to age, Satan

has gathered human agencies through

whom to work out his diabolical pur-

poses, and to bring about the enforce-

ment of his plans and devices in the

earth. The great putrid fountain of evil

has been continually flowing through

human society. Though unable to expel

God from his throne, Satan has charged

God with satanic attributes, and has

claimed the attributes of God as his

own. He is a deceiver, and through

his serpentine sharpness, through his

crooked practises, he has drawn to him-

self the homage which man should have

given to God, and has planted his sa-

tanic throne between the human wor-

shiper and the divine Father.

But in man's behalf, Christ met the

specious temptations of Satan, and left

to man an example as to how to over-

come Satan in the conflict. He ex-

horts his followers, saying, "Be of good

cheer; I have overcome the world."

Satan has made masterly efforts to per-

petuate sin. He arrayed all his evil agen-

cies to war against Jesus Christ in an

active, desperate conflict, in order that

he might bruise the heart of infinite

Love. He seduced the people to bow

to idols, and thus [he] gain[ed] suprem-

acy over earthly kingdoms. He consid-

ered that to be the god of this world

was the next best thing to gaining pos-

session of the throne of God in heaven.

In a large measure he has been suc-

cessful in his plans. When Jesus was

on earth, Satan led the people to reject

the Son of God, and to choose Barab-

bas, who in character represented Sa-

tan, the god of this world. The Lord

Jesus Christ came to dispute the usur-

pation of Satan in the kingdoms of the.

world. The conflict is not yet ended;

and as we draw near the close of time,

the battle waxes more intense. As the

second appearing of our Lord Jesus

Christ draws near, satanic agencies are

moved from beneath. Satan will not only

appear as a human being, but he will

personate Jesus Christ; and the world

who has rejected the truth will receive

him as the Lord of lords and King of

kings. He will exercise his power, and

work upon the human imagination. He

will corrupt both the minds and the

bodies of men, and will work through

the children of disobedience, fascinat-

ing and charming, as does a serpent.

What a spectacle will the world be for

heavenly intelligences! What a spec-

tacle for God, the Creator of the world,

to behold! The form Satan assumed in

Eden when leading our first parents to

transgress, was of a character to be-

wilder and confuse the mind. He will

work in as subtle a manner as we near

the end of earth's history. All his de-

ceiving power will be brought to bear

upon human subjects, to complete the

work of deluding the human family. So

deceptive will be his working, that men

will do as they did in the days of Christ;

and when asked, Whom shall I release

unto you, Christ or Barabbas? the al-

most universal cry will be, Barabbas,

Barabbas! And when the question is

asked, "What will ye then that I shall

do unto him whom ye call the King of

the Jews?" the cry again will be, "Cru-

cify him!" Christ will be represented in

the person of those who accept the

truth, and who identify their interest

with that of their Lord. The world will

be enraged at them in the same way

that they were enraged at Christ, and

the disciples of Christ will know that

they are to be treated no better than was

their Lord. But Christ will surely iden-

tify his interest with that of those who

accept him as their personal Saviour.

Every insult, every reproach, every false

accusation made against them by those

who have turned their ears away from

the truth and are turned unto fables, will

be charged upon the guilty ones as

done to Christ in the person of his

saints.

Those who love and keep the com-

mandments of God are most obnoxious

to the synagogue of Satan, and the pow-

ers of evil will manifest their hatred

toward them to the fullest extent pos-

sible. John foresaw the conflict be-

tween the remnant church and the

power of evil, and said, "The dragon

was wroth with the woman, and went

to make war with the remnant of her

seed, which keep the commandments

of God, and have the testimony of Jesus

Christ." The forces of darkness will

unite with human agents who have given

themselves into the control of Satan,

and the same scenes that were exhib-

ited at the trial, rejection, and cruci-

fixion of Christ will be revived. Through

yielding to satanic influences, men will

be transformed into fiends; and those

who were created in the image of God,

who were formed to honor and glorify

their Creator, will become the habita-

100

tion of dragons, and Satan will see in

an apostate race his masterpiece of

evil,—men who reflect his own image.

Men were imbued with a satanic spirit

at the time when they decided that they

would have Barabbas, a thief and mur-

derer, in preference to the Son of God.

The demoniac power triumphed over

humanity; legions of evil angels took

entire control of men, and in answer to

Pilate's question as to whom he should

release unto them, they shrieked out,

"Away with this man, and release unto

us Barabbas." When Pilate spoke again

to them concerning Jesus, the hoarse

cry was raised, "Crucify him, crucify

him." Through yielding to demoniac

agencies, men were led to take their

stand on the side of the great apostate.

Unfallen worlds looked upon the scene

with amazement, unable to comprehend

the degradation that sin had wrought.

Legions of evil angels controlled the

priests and rulers, and gave voice to

the suggestions of Satan in persuading

and tempting the people by falsehoods

and bribes to reject the Son of God, and

to choose a robber and murderer in his

stead. They appealed to the very worst

passions of the unregenerate heart, and

stirred up the worst elements of human

nature by the most unjust accusations

and representations. What a scene was

this for God to look upon, for seraphim

and cherubim to behold! The only be-

gotten Son of God, the Majesty of

heaven, the King of glory, was mocked,

insulted, taunted, rejected, and cruci-

fied by those whom he came to save,

who had given themselves to the con-

trol of Satan.

Christ said, "If they do these things

in a green tree, what shall be done in

the dry?" "They shall deliver you up to

councils; and in the synagogues ye shall

be beaten: and ye shall be brought be-

fore rulers and kings for my sake, for

a testimony against them. . . . Now the

brother shall betray the brother to death,

and the father the son; and children

shall rise up against their parents, and

shall cause them to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for

my name's sake: but he that shall en-

dure unto the end, the same shall be

saved." "And this gospel of the king-

dom shall be preached in all the world

for a witness unto all nations; and then

shall the end come." The agencies of

Satan are having their last chance to

develop before the world, before angels

and men, the true principles of their

attributes. The people of God are now

to stand as representatives of the at-

tributes of the Father and the Son.

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what

hour your Lord doth come. But know

this, that if the goodman of the house

had known what watch the thief would

come, he would have watched, and

would not have suffered his house to

be broken up. Therefore be ye also

ready: for in such an hour as ye think

not the Son of man cometh. Who then

is a faithful and wise servant, whom his

lord hath made ruler over his household,

to give them meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord

when he cometh shall find so doing.

Verily I say unto you, That he shall

make him ruler over all his goods."—

Review and Herald,

April 14, 1896.

101

LESSON 13

September 23-29

"And I saw as it were a sea of glass

mingled with fire: and them that had

gotten the victory over the beast, and

over his image, and over his mark, and

over the number of his name, stand on

the sea of glass, having the harps of

God." Rev. 15:2.

Not long from now the righteous will

stand victorious over the beast. The

justice and majesty of God will be pro-

claimed in the anthem sung on the sea

of glass: "Great and marvellous are thy

works, Lord God Almighty; just and true

are thy ways, thou King of saints." Rev.

15:3. The tares will have been separated

from the wheat, all unrighteousness will

have been detected and exposed, the

wicked will have been vanquished, and

the faithful exalted. God's ways will be

seen as just and true, and His works

great and marvelous.

The confession, "just and true are thy

ways," will be one in which the lost will

102

join with the redeemed. Even the con-

demned will know that they could not

have received a more equitable judg-

ment. The chorus, chanted on the sea

of glass, tells us that God will be justi-

fied when He speaks, and clear when

He judges. Here the oldest of recorded

events and words will be joined with the

latest possible events and words. Here

are the words of earth and heaven cou-

pled together. The song of Moses, and

the song of the Lord Christ—the song

of Israel's victory and of the Christians'

victory, in one anthem of thanksgiving.

As we observe more carefully, we see

that it is all very full of parallels. The

singers in both cases stand by a sea

—the Red Sea of Egypt, and heaven's

sea of glass. They are each singing of

victory and of deliverance from ene-

mies. And the sentiments of the two

songs are the same. They have to do

with God's great power and the ac-

knowledgment that He is King of kings

and Lord of lords.

The Victory of Jesus and His People

LESSON 13



❑

Sunday

September 23

Part 1

VICTORY FOR

GOD'S PEOPLE

Rev. 15:3

"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and

the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy

works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou

King of saints."

This song is one of eXultation, sung by the righteous and

occasioned by judgments which have overwhelmed the wicked.

The song is one not only of thanksgiving to the Lord, but one

which magnifies Him for the vindication of His name. The sad

fact is that in that day families will be divided—one member

will be on the inside, another on the outside. Some whom they

loved will have earned a heritage of shame and despair. And

the ransomed of the Lord will recognize how the divine attri-

butes have been magnified in the punishment awarded the im-

penitent.

What is the great reward for those who have been obedient

to God through faith in Jesus? Rev. 22:14.

"Then they that have kept God's commandments shall

breathe in immortal vigor beneath the tree of life; and through

unending ages the inhabitants of sinless worlds shall behold, in

that garden of delight, a sample of the perfect work of God's

creation, untouched by the curse of sin—a sample of what the

whole earth would have become, had man but fulfilled the

Creator's glorious

plan."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 62.

What welcome will be given the righteous by the King?

Matt. 25:34.

What emotion does Isaiah attribute to the redeemed as they

enter the renewed earth? lsa. 35:10.



THINK IT THROUGH



The cross of Christ is to be the science and song of the

redeemed throughout eternity. How can I make it a part of my

contemplation and a part of my song now?

"The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back

the world into God's favor. All that was lost by sin is restored.

Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode

of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled

to maintain possession of the earth. Now God's original purpose

in its creation is accomplished. 'The saints of the Most High

shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even

forever and ever.' Daniel

7:18."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page

342.

"It is only to those who are waiting in hope and faith that

Christ will appear, without sin unto salvation. Many have the

theory of the truth who know not the power of godliness. If

the word of God dwelt in the heart, it would control the life.

Faith, purity, and conformity to the will of God would testify

to its sanctifying

power."—Testimonies,

Vol. 5, p. 15.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 648-652.

103

The Victory of Jesus and His People

LESSON 13



❑

Monday

September 24

Part 2

VICTORY OVER

THE BEAST

Rev. 15:2

"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and

them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his

image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name,

stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."

Christ's death and victory give hope in the struggles and

victories of the servants of God everywhere. As we are led

through a life of discipline, told to do without this or that, con-

tend with this or that selfishness, pressed hard by this or that

sorrow, tempted to give up trust in God's care, pressured to

be indifferent and reckless, we should think of the struggle of

the Lamb of God. Our struggle and victory today is no mere

disjointed, separated thing, done alone and without lasting

effect; but if we are true to our calling, it will be a part of the

great victory of the Lamb already won.

What will be the fate of the beast and those who give their

allegiance to it? Rev. 19:20. (See also Rev. 18:6, 7, 20, 21;

cf. Dan. 7:11.)

What does the psalmist say about the security afforded the

godly under siege? Ps. 91:1-7.



THINK IT THROUGH



The subjects of Christ's kingdom are being gathered even

now into a spiritual fellowship called the "kingdom of grace."

What assures me that I am a member of that fellowship?

Can those who behold my life see the difference between

those who serve God and those who do not?

"The eye of God, looking down the ages, was fixed upon

the crisis which His people are to meet, when earthly powers

shall be arrayed against them. Like the captive exile, they will

be in fear of death by starvation or by violence. But the Holy

One who divided the Red Sea before Israel, will manifest His

mighty power and turn their captivity. 'They shall be Mine,

saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels;

and I will spare them, as a man spareth His own son that serveth

Him.' Malachi 3:17. If the blood of Christ's faithful witnesses

were shed at this time, it would not, like the blood of the mar-

tyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God. Their fidelity

would not be a testimony to convince others of the truth; for

the obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until

they return no more. If the righteous were now left to fall a

prey to their enemies, it would be a triumph for the prince of

darkness. . . . [Ps. 27:5; Isa. 26:20, 21 quoted.] Glorious will

be the deliverance of those who have patiently waited for His

coming and whose names are written in the book of life."—The

Great Controversy,

page 634.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 640-642.

104

The Victory of Jesus and His People

LESSON 13



❑

Tuesday

September

Part 3

VICTORY OVER

THE DRAGON

Rev. 12:7, 9

"And there was war in heaven." "And the great dragon was

cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which

deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and

his angels were cast out with him."

The dragon primarily symbolizes Satan, the archenemy of

Christ and His people. It is used also of powers through whom

Satan works his will. In the days of Christ's earthly life pagan

Rome constituted the "dragon." Later, papal Rome became the

instrument of Satan's nefarious designs.

How was Jesus delivered from the dragon immediately after

His birth? Matt. 2:13.

"The prince of evil exerted all his power and cunning to

destroy Jesus; for he saw that the Saviour's mercy and love,

His compassion and pitying tenderness, were representing to

the world the character of God. Satan contested every claim put

forth by the Son of God and employed men as his agents to

fill the Saviour's life with suffering and sorrow."—The

Great

Controversy,

page 501.

Satan failed to destroy the Infant Jesus; later he failed to hold

the Lord of life in the tomb after the crucifixion. The ascension

signalized Satan's utter defeat.

Repeatedly baffled, against whom does the dragon finally

vent his wrath? Rev. 12:17.

With whom will be the final victory? Rev. 17:14.



THINK IT THROUGH



The flood of persecution was stemmed by the association of

many European princes with the Reformation movement. How

did the opening up of America as a new nation also help?

"Satan's work of ruin is forever ended. For six thousand

years he has wrought his will, filling the earth with woe and

causing grief throughout the universe. The whole creation has

groaned and travailed together in pain. Now God's creatures

are forever delivered from his presence and temptations. 'The

whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they [the righteous] break

forth into singing.' Isaiah 14:7. And a shout of praise and

triumph ascends from the whole loyal universe. 'The voice of

a great multitude,' as the voice of many waters, and as the

voice of mighty thunderings,' is heard, saying: 'Alleluia: for the

Lord God omnipotent reigneth.' Revelation 19:6."—The

Great

Controversy,

page 673.

"The vacancies made in heaven by the fall of Satan and his

angels will be filled by the redeemed of the Lord."—Ellen G.

White,

Watchman,

Nov. 7, 1905. (Clifton L. Taylor,

Outline

Studies From the Testimonies,

page 84.)



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 658-661.

105

The Victory of Jesus and His People

LESSON 13



❑

Wednesday

September 26

Part 4

CHRIST AND HIS

PEOPLE CONQUER

Rev. 19:20

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet

that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them

that had received the mark of the beast, and them that wor-

shipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of

fire burning with brimstone."

As a result of immigration and propaganda, the United

States, which in its beginnings was basically Protestant, today

has nearly two and a half times as many Roman Catholics as

the largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptists.

Bertrand Russell has predicted that in thirty years America is

likely to be "predominantly Catholic."

What actions of the lamblike beast indicate the extent to

which this nation will become the instrument for papal author-

ity? Rev. 13:12.

To what political eminence will the papacy be restored in

the latter days? Rev. 17:12, 13, 17.

Already there are evidences of a desire on the part of states-

men and leaders of both Europe and America to invoke the aid

of the papacy in the establishment of international harmony.

What last appeal will God make to those who are being

drawn into the fold of antichrist? Rev. 18:4.

What peculiar marks will distinguish the worshipers of God

in the last days? Rev. 14:12.

THINK IT THROUGH

FURTHER STUDY

106

Standing apart from all compromise with Rome, the last-day

church will hold fast to the "faith once delivered unto the

saints," and obedience to all the "commandments of God."

What will it mean to be faithful under these most adverse con-

ditions? Am I, by God's grace, faithful to Him now?

"The book of life contains the names of all who have ever

entered the service of God. Jesus bade His disciples: 'Rejoice,

because your names are written in heaven.' Luke 10:20. Paul

speaks of his faithful fellow workers, 'whose names are in the

book of life.' Philippians 4:3. Daniel, looking down to 'a time

of trouble, such as never was,' declares that God's people

shall be delivered, 'everyone that shall be found written in the

book.' And the revelator says that those only shall enter the

city of God whose names 'are written in the Lamb's book of

life.' Daniel 12:1; Revelation 21:27."—The

Great Controversy,

pages 480, 481.

The Great Controversy,

pages 644-647.

The Victory of Jesus and His People

LESSON 13



❑

Thursday

September 27



Part 5



"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and

THE FINAL VICTORY prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and

judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the

Dan. 1:21, 22 time came that the saints possessed the kingdom."

The Bible describes the false and counterfeit religions of

Satan that we might shun them and choose the gospel of Christ.

The books of Daniel and the Revelation show the awful results

of rebellion that we might appreciate the reward of righteous-

ness and the blessing of obedience.

The final victory will come after the people of God have put

on the garments of salvation and have accepted the principles

of God's government.

"By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the

Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of

His glory—His character—is to shine forth in His followers. . . .

"At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a

message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power.

His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the

world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His

goodness, mercy, and truth....

"Thus in the night of spiritual darkness God's glory is to

shine forth through His church. . . .

"Christ has made every provision that His church shall be

a transformed body, illumined with the Light of the world, pos-

sessing the glory of Emmanuel. It is His purpose that every

Christian shall be surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere of

light and

peace."—Christ's Object Lessons,

pages 414-419.

"'You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for

My truth, enter in.' We all marched in and felt that we had a

perfect right in the city."—Early

Writings,

page 17.

How suddenly will modern Babylon's judgment come? Rev.

18:8, 17. Compare Isa. 13:19.

What similar fate will befall all who associate with her idola-

tries? Rev. 14:11.



THINK IT THROUGH



Where will the victory of the remnant be celebrated? By

what means does God distinguish those who are to take part

in this event?

"Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass

as it were mingled with fire,—so resplendent is it with the glory

of God,—are gathered the company that have 'gotten the vic-

tory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and

over the number of his name.' With the Lamb upon Mount Zion,

'having the harps of God,' they stand, the hundred and forty

and four thousand that were redeemed from among men."—The

Great Controversy,

page 648.



FURTHER STUDY



The Great Controversy,

pages 653-657.

107

The Victory of Jesus and His People

LESSON 13



❑

Friday

September 28

Part 6

NO MORE CURSE

Rev. 22:3

"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God

and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve

him."

The curse was pronounced after the first transgression. But

in the time here foretold all will be reversed. There is the curse

upon individuals, as it fell upon Cain (Gen. 4:11), and the curse

upon cities, as it fell upon Jericho (Joshua 6:1-5). But this curse

will cease to be, according to the Scripture, for there will be

no iniquity, and hence no devastation. And there will be no one

to trouble God's people and bring the curse upon the inheritors

of the land.

Beyond our present restricted vision, what great joy awaits

the child of God? 1 Cor. 2:9; 13:12.

"There the redeemed shall know, even as also they are

known. The loves and sympathies which God Himself has

planted in the soul shall there find truest and sweetest exercise.

The pure communion with holy beings, the harmonious social

life with the blessed angels and with the faithful ones of all

ages, . . . the sacred ties that bind together 'the whole family

in heaven and earth,' (Ephesians 3:15)—these help to constitute

the happiness of the redeemed."—The

Great Controversy,

page

677.

What happy state will be restored at this time? Rev. 21:3.

What beautiful promise of comfort is given to all who suffer

pain and sorrow? Rev. 21:4.

"Pain cannot exist in the atmosphere of heaven. There will

be no more tears, no funeral trains, no badges of mourning.

. . . 'The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that

dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.' .. . Isaiah 33:24."

—The Great Controversy,

page 676.

THINK IT THROUGH



Do we have enough in our own experience to teach us the

meaning of the curse? How wonderful when the heavy load of

toil, poverty, infirmities, and death will be shaken off in ever-

lasting glory!

"In the City of God 'there shall be no night.' None will need

or desire repose. There will be no weariness in doing the will

of God and offering praise to His name. We shall ever feel the

freshness of the morning and shall ever be far from its close.

. . . The glory of God and the Lamb floods the Holy City with

unfading light."—The

Great Controversy,

page 676.

"To everyone who offers himself to the Lord for service,

withholding nothing, is given power for the attainment of mea-

sureless results. For these God will do great things. He will

work upon the minds of men so that, even in this world, there

shall be seen in their lives a fulfillment of the promise of the

future state."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 160.

The Great Controversy,

pages 674-678.

FURTHER STUDY

108

Your neighbor

is worried about Pollution,

not Armageddon!

So let's talk to your neighbor

about pollution. First. And

Armageddon later. After he

knows that we are just as con-

cerned with today, as tomorrow.

It's not really a new approach in

Christian witnessing. Jesus Christ

used it every day. He discussed

topics that were of current

interest and then, gradually, led

into subjects of real significance.

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The modern approach in Sabbath School witnessing.

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AUCKLAND

TRANS-COMMONWEALTH

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HOBART I

Unions

Population

Churches

Church

Members

Sab. Sch.

Members

Central Pacific U.M.

905,231

10,751

13,931

Papua-New Guinea U.M.

2,287,337

274

33,627

48,741

Trans-Tasman U.C.

9,064,381

221

25,467

25,442

Trans-Commonwealth U.C.

6,785,975

172

16,045

15,739

Western Pacific U.M.

374,555

129

11,542

17,643

TOTALS

19,417,479

886

97,432

121,496

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June.

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NEW ZEALAND

CHRISTCHURCH

ustralasian Division